Improving School Infrastructure for Healthier Students and Communities

For families across the United States, public school buildings serve as essential facilities for learning, athletics, meals, community gatherings, and emergency response—yet they suffer from decades of underinvestment, as do school grounds and student transportation. This pattern of underinvestment strains school budgets, impairs student health and academic performance, and puts community safety at risk. While recent federal and state investments have begun to address the challenges facing our K–12 public education infrastructure, much more is required. This expert note presents evidence and describes actions that Congress and governors can take to promote infrastructure investments that improve the health and well-being of students and generate important cost savings for communities.