School Facilities & Health

Gathers research evidence to make the case that “the school building is foundational to student success.” The authors focus particularly on links between children’s physical health, cognitive development, and academic performance. They suggest key health performance indicators for school facilities and show how environmental exposures can impair students’ readiness to learn.

Briefly summarizes evidence of three key ways that school facilities affect students’ physical health, mental health, and academic performance: indoor air quality; thermal comfort; and exposure to natural light. Highlights how sustainable building designs and adaptations can improve these facilities conditions. Includes information on using federal funding to adopt sustainable building technologies and reduce environmental hazards.

Provides a systematic overview of research evidence on the various ways school facilities either support or impede student engagement and learning. The main report is supplemented by an annotated bibliography and a set of brief info-sheets on each of the main categories of impact.

Considering the wide variance in school building quality that was revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, argues that historical underinvestment in school facilities – both capital to build and support for regular maintenance – has created unhealthy school buildings across the nation. Suggests priorities for federal investment and research.

Lifts up a school’s physical environment as a key factor among 10 that are considered within the “Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child” framework. See also a response article, Significance of the School Physical Environment: A Commentary, by William J. Fisk & co-authors, that summarizes additional evidence about the effects of indoor environmental quality on academic achievement.

Developed with support from the National Association of State Boards of Education, this whitepaper surveys what is known – and much yet unmeasured – about the status of school facilities in Indiana, and recommends first steps toward a strategy “to respond to Indiana’s pressing health challenges through school design and maintenance.” The report considers the distinct health needs of students and of the adult K-12 workforce, and speaks to the role of schools in promoting community health and development.

Defines key terms and concepts related to school HVAC technology, offers a framework for evaluating the cost of solutions and obtaining funding, and asserts the health and cost benefits of all-electric HVAC systems. Topical briefs and a recorded webinar with the authors accompany the full report.

Examines the components of classroom air quality and investigates the effect of different ventilation systems on air quality and student performance.

10-minute presentation covers key terms and concepts related to indoor air quality and take-aways from research on health impacts, performance standards, and monitoring procedures.  Pairs with a video on ventilation.

10-minute presentation covers key terms and concepts related to indoor air quality and take-aways from research on health impacts, performance standards, and monitoring procedures. Pairs with a video on filtration.

Summarizes evidence that improving the ventilation of school buildings can reduce respiratory health risks for students, decreasing absences and boosting achievement. The authors find that while ventilation rates in classrooms commonly fall below prevailing health standards, the costs associated with available remedies are modest – less than 0.1% of what local school districts typically spend in a year. Ventilation Rates and School Performance is a blog that reviews the summary and points to highlights in the research.

Examines variations in practices related to water quality and water access in schools serving different student populations. Finds that most U.S. schools provide drinking water and guidance on the importance of hydration, but other best practices related to water quality – such as testing water outlets for the presence of lead – are less common.

Provides an overview of water quality and access issues faced by public schools across the country and identifies state and federal resources to assist schools and districts.

Provides overviews and links to detailed guidance on 7 hazardous substances found most commonly at school facilities: asbestos; chemicals; formaldehyde; lead; mercury; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and radon.

Many school and day care buildings have been found to have environmental health problems that impact children’s health and diminish their ability to learn. This article explains the scope of the problem and recommends a set of remedies.

National survey on the extent to which school facilities present physical barriers that may limit access for people with disabilities, and how local school districts plan to address those challenges. Recommends ways for federal agencies, including the Departments of Education and Justice, to assist districts and states.

Instructs users on how to measure or estimate the ventilation rate in a classroom and compare the results to research-based targets.

A resource for staff and community members to systematically catalog health concerns in their schools, this kit includes surveys, observation checklists, and guidance for identifying and mapping specific hazards.

State legislation enacted in 2022 directed the Delaware Department of Education to establish a standard system to determine the condition of school facilities in the state.

An online resource bank with summaries of the research on specific problems such as particulate pollution, allergens, and mold, and on approaches to ventilation.

A how-to guide for local school district leaders to draft a comprehensive Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management plan for their facilities. Offers model language for each plan component, and links to case-study examples. Includes a downloadable plan template.

A database of papers linking schools and health outcomes that have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals since 2016. Searchable by type of health measure, type of school, location, and other factors, or by the report title.