Building a Strong, Competitive 21st Century Economy
School buildings across the country are literally crumbling. Recent studies estimate that well over a hundred billion dollars is needed to bring schools into good condition, and that 75 percent of schools are in various stages of disrepair. Like other infrastructure projects, modernizing schools will create new, construction jobs while ensuring that students can learn and teachers can teach in safe, healthy, technologically up-to-date, and energy-efficient learning environments.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will put Americans back to work quickly while bringing our schools and colleges into the 21st century. The legislation will:
School buildings across the country are literally crumbling. Recent studies estimate that well over a hundred billion dollars is needed to bring schools into good condition, and that 75 percent of schools are in various stages of disrepair. Like other infrastructure projects, modernizing schools will create new, construction jobs while ensuring that students can learn and teachers can teach in safe, healthy, technologically up-to-date, and energy-efficient learning environments.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will put Americans back to work quickly while bringing our schools and colleges into the 21st century. The legislation will:
Create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in construction and other industries
Update schools with 21st century technology
Green and modernize the nation’s classrooms
Support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act…
“Green school renovations will help us address both of these pressing needs in an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable way, with positive effects that will be felt well into the future.”
-- S. Richard Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chairman, U.S. Green Building Council
“The $14 billion investment in school modernization and renovation will allow districts one time capital to complete many of the projects they have ready to go to improve the learning environments for the students in their schools.”
-- Mary Kusler, Assistant Director, American Association of School Administrators
- Provide $14 billion to improve and repair public school facilities. Funds can be used to:
- Improve the teaching and learning climate,
- Replace light systems and security doors,
- Repair heating and ventilation systems,
- Bring facilities into compliance with fire, health, and safety codes,
- Make necessary modifications to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and
- Implement measures to eliminate exposure to mold, mildew and lead-based paint.
- Provide $6 billion for colleges and universities for similar repair, renovation and modernization needs.
Update schools with 21st century technology
- Provide $1 billion for Enhancing Education Through Technology (EdTech) – a program which provides grants to schools to increase access to educational technology and further integrate technology into the classroom.
Green and modernize the nation’s classrooms
- Ensure that at least 25 percent of funds will support projects that meet green standards, including projects such as installing green roofs, providing more accommodation for alternate transportation, and building renewable energy generation and heating systems.
- States may reserve up to 1 percent of their funding to develop a school facilities database and school energy efficiency quality plan.
- Make schools energy-efficient, creating jobs and saving taxpayers billions in energy costs.
Support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act…
“Green school renovations will help us address both of these pressing needs in an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable way, with positive effects that will be felt well into the future.”
-- S. Richard Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chairman, U.S. Green Building Council
“The $14 billion investment in school modernization and renovation will allow districts one time capital to complete many of the projects they have ready to go to improve the learning environments for the students in their schools.”
-- Mary Kusler, Assistant Director, American Association of School Administrators
It is very unfortunate that this bill seems to use the standard federal funding formula for Title I to disburse construction funds. Looking at the list for my state, many districts because of their free & reduced lunch population are receiving significant dollars even if they have completely renovated or new buildings. Why does this bill not provide the states with the money to distribute based on the districts with the most substantial construction needs? I understand why the Title I and IDEA increases use the formula. That absolutely makes sense. Construction monies are a totally different monster. Just because a district has a high population of Title I does not mean that they need construction dollars. Vice-versa, just because a district has a low population of Title I does not mean that they do not need construction dollars. I believe that the Directors of Facilities for each state would be more qualified to distribute those dollars to meet the facility priorities of that state. Overall, very pleased that this bill is happening, but I cannot be more disappointed in the distribution of construction dollars. It does not look like any thought was put behind this at all. It was just the easiest answer, but definitely, not the correct one!