Creating Jobs by Improving Maintenance and Repair Investment in Our Nation’s Schools

-- 21st Century School Fund, Washington, DC, 12/2/2009

NAT: December 2, 2009 --

Repair for Success: An Analysis of the Need and Possibilities for a Federal Investment in PK-12 School Maintenance and Repair describes how a new national commitment to address the deferred maintenance and renewal of our nation’s PK-12 public school buildings will improve our education system, the economy and the environment. A $27 billion federal investment, just 10% of the minimum estimated total need, would take us a major step closer to ensuring that the nearly 55 million staff and students who attend school daily are in healthy, safe and educationally appropriate environments. This investment will also quickly create between 160,000 and 235,000 jobs that will protect our environment and sustain the public infrastructure investments made by earlier generations.

This analysis was utilized by the Economic Policy Institute in their “American Jobs Plan” study to address the U.S. jobs crisis.

Federal School Construction Legislation Update

-- 21st Century School Fund, Washington, DC, 11/13/2009

NAT: November 13, 2009 -- Legislation to provide federal support for school building improvements is moving forward in both chambers of Congress. The House of Representatives passed High Performance Green School Buildings Act HR 3221 in July 2009, which authorized federal funds to be paid directly to local school districts for school modernization, repair and renovation. However, the language from this bill was incorporated into the Student Aid & Fiscal Reponsibility Act(Reauthorization of Higher Education Act), which passed the full House in late September. This bill directs $4B in savings from changes in the student loan industry to PK-12 school building improvements in Title I school districts.

The Senate version of the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act is also expected to include funding for school construction, modernization, renovation, and repair with federal funds distributed to the states for allocation to local school districts based on the level of need for school improvements and wealth of students. Like much federal legislation, the Higher Education Act, is unlikely to be debated in the Senate until health care legislation is voted on by the full Senate. Once the Senate Higher Education bill passes, it will have to be reconciled with the House Higher Education legislation passed in September.

In addition the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $700M for school construction, renovation, and repair (following the language in S1121, the School Building Fairness Act) as part of the Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill passed prior to the August recess. Floor debate has not yet been scheduled for any FY10 Appropriations legislation.

For more information regarding federal school construction legislation, contact Marni Allen at mallen@21csf.org.

School Facilities Photo Exhibit Opening a Success

-- 10/9/2009

DC: October 9, 2009 -- Over 50 legislative staffers, students, parents, and advocates attended the opening reception for the Through Your Lens photo and essay exhibit at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. Of the over 400 entries received from 23 states, photos and stories from 25 student and teacher finalists were showcased in the Russell Building Rotunda. Attendees enjoyed talking to students about their photos, stories, and experiences in their school buildings. The photos and stories in the exhibit speak with clarity about our school building conditions from around the nation and are especially relevant as Congress considers legislation for school modernization and repair. To view the virtual gallery, visit www.ThroughYourLens.org.

Policy Changes For More Community-Centered Schools

-- National Trust for Historic Preservation, 3/22/2010

DC: March 22, 2010 -- A new report released by the National Trust for Historic Preservation describes steps that states and localities can take to encourage more community-centered schools -- those that are centrally-located, jointly share facilities, and fits well within the neighborhood. The report, produced through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and with support from BEST, suggests changes that would help ensure that the educational, environmental, health, community, and fiscal considerations are weighed by communities when making school closing, consolidation, and site selection decisions.

Students and Teachers from Around the Nation Showcase Their School Facilities

-- 9/17/2009

NAT: September 17, 2009 -- Through Your Lens: School Facilities Across America, a national photo and essay contest launched by the 21st Century School Fund, Healthy Schools Campaign and Critical Exposure has received overwhelming response of photos and essays from around the country. At the close of the contest on September 14th, students and teachers and other concerned community members from 20 states submitted over 350 entries. The entries can be viewed at www.ThroughYourLens.org. Thanks to everyone that submitted. The winning photos and stories will be displayed in Washington, DC on October 5 to 9. More details of the exhibit will be provided soon. Please email sodonnell@21csf.org if you want details emailed to you.