RSVP here for a virtual policy forum about what California policy makers can do to advance equitable access to climate-resilient school infrastructure on December 12, 2023.

SB 394 (Gonzalez) passed out of the California State Senate in a bipartisan, unanimous 39-0 vote and is now headed to the Assembly for consideration.

California's reduced budget means lawmakers have some tough decisions to make. But one thing seems like an easy YES: Taking advantage of the billions of federal dollars available from the IRA to create healthy schools for all CA kids.

Please join us for a policy forum on how California can create climate-resilient schools for all TK-12 school children!

Amid fires, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, and other climate-driven disasters and health hazards, California’s leading experts in children’s health and education have come together to call for a cost-effective, ten year $150 billion investment to ensure K-12 public schools can remain open and provide safe and healthy places for California's children to learn and grow.

We have launched the Climate Ready Schools Coalition website, where you can find more information about our work, our members, and resources regarding climate-resilient schools.

We support the proposal that the CalSHAPE HVAC Upgrade and Repair Grants be used for only the installation of zero emission equipment and prioritize funding for schools in underserved and environmental justice communities, near busy roadways, and in communities with poor air quality. In addition, we emphasize our strong agreement with proposal Option 1 which would make HVAC system replacements with gas equipment ineligible for the grant award.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced a state budget that clearly aims to make hard choices as the state faces its first deficit in years. But the governor’s proposal leaves out two wise investments.

We’ve joined with a statewide coalition to write a letter asking Gov. Newsom to ensure that school infrastructure investments are cost-effective and aligned with California’s climate and equity goals, and to coordinate state, county, and local actions to safeguard children’s health and learning.

We applaud the work that went into the adoption of this year’s budget, but we must move quickly to ensure we are preparing our school buildings, grounds, and students to be climate-ready.

In “Clean and Healthy Schools are Electric: Aligning California’s School Infrastructure Investments with our Climate and Health Goals,” our new report with Rewiring America and UC Santa Barbara, we make the case for upgrading to all-electric HVAC systems with advanced filtration. This transition can deliver enormous educational and health benefits to California’s students and school staff, all while cutting operating costs.

In our guest post on NextGen Policy’s Climate 100 blog, we urged California’s lawmakers to align every dollar spent in K-12 infrastructure with building an equitable zero carbon future and ensure that our current actions work towards, and not against, the state’s 2045 goal.

Extraordinary times also call for extraordinary vision. The development of a statewide Master Plan for Climate Resilient Schools — supported by technical assistance to districts and schools — will ensure that future school infrastructure investment is cost-effective and aligned with California’s climate commitments, Climate Adaptation Strategy, and Extreme Heat Action Plan.