School Modernization

Reopen Rebuild America’s Schools Act

Infrastructure

Modernize School Facilities

Tax Credit Bonds

Let’s fix our schools

Students need 21st century tools for 21st century learning.

The average public school building in the United States is 44 years old.

The American Society of Civil Engineers gives the condition of America’s 100,000 public school buildings an overall grade of D+.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency attributes poor indoor air quality in more than 60,000 schools to insects and respiratory irritants.

Schools facilities are the second largest sector in public infrastructure spending, after highways.

Implement tax credit bonds to allow schools to finance renovations, repairs and investments in technology at below-market rates and without interest.

NEA urges Congress to include school modernization in any packaged effort to address infrastructure in the United States.

Take Action!

Support strong public schools by taking these actions today.

Demand Funding to Update and Upgrade Schools

Many school buildings are crumbling and outdated, and leaders in Congress are debating how much to spend on a federal package to modernize them. America has 50,000 school buildings that are more than 50 years old, with outmoded HVAC systems that leave students sweltering when it’s warm and freezing when it’s cold. Roofs leak, rooms flood, pest and vermin infestation is widespread, and asbestos floor tiles make the air toxic. NEA supports the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act (S. 96/H.R. 604), which would create a $100 billion grant program and $30 billion tax-credit bond program targeting high-poverty school buildings that pose health and safety risks to students and staff.

Email your senators and representative and urge them to support the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act, and include a $130 billion investment for public schools in the budget agreement.

Bills in Congress

S. 96

A bill which would provide $130 targeted at high-poverty schools to help reopen public schools and give students and educators a safe place to learn and work.

HR 604

A bill which would provide $130 targeted at high-poverty schools to help reopen public schools and give students and educators a safe place to learn and work.

HR 2

A bill to help to our nation’s public schools as they seek to reopen this fall, create jobs in communities hard hit by the economic downturn, and help address structural inequities in the condition of our nation’s K-12 public education infrastructure