Climate Adaptation and Resilience at California’s K–12 Schools: Actions and Recommendations for State and District Leadership

As California continues to grapple with the intensifying effects of climate change, ensuring that our schools are prepared to withstand extreme weather events such as wildfires, smoke, heat waves, and flooding is more urgent than ever. As we’ve seen all too viscerally in recent weeks, climate disruptions threaten the mental and physical health of our students and families and the ability to provide safe, healthy places for students to learn and thrive.

To address this growing challenge, along with our partners at the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) and Ten Strands, we’re sharing a new policy brief, Climate Adaptation and Resilience at California’s K–12 Schools: Actions and Recommendations for State and District Leadership. This landmark brief outlines the urgent need for state and local leaders to act quickly to protect schools from climate risks. Highlighting the impacts of extreme heat, wildfire smoke, storms, and flooding, the brief calls for immediate investment in resilient infrastructure, planning, and interagency coordination. It offers actionable recommendations for the state as well as districts to ensure that schools remain safe, operational, and conducive to learning even as climate impacts continue to escalate.