EDUCATION »» SCHOOL EFFICIENCY »» SCHOOL FACILITIES »» Feb 19, 2024

Like much of our nation’s infrastructure, the average American public school is over 50 years old and past its expected lifetime. Most of our schools were built for the Baby Boom generation and more than a third of them need extensive repairs or complete rebuilding. Nationally, these construction cost estimates exceed $100 billion. However, when adding the cost of equipping schools with modern technology and green energy upgrades, this estimate nearly triples. Advocates say that when schools begin to deteriorate, student achievement does also. They say students learn best when taught in smaller classes and in adequate facilities equipped with technology and resources that help maximize their abilities and fulfill their potential. Currently, many of our public-school students attend overcrowded schools with broken bathrooms, poor ventilation, leaking roofs and sporadic electric power. These conditions, among others, have caused many American families to seek alternatives to placing their children in our public school system. Pending Legislation: S.2608 - Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2023 Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack (RI) Status: Senate Committee on Finance Chair: Sen. Ron Wyden (OR)