The Blog
Significant, Interesting, and Consequential Reporting.
Significant, Interesting, and Consequential Reporting.
Lead in drinking water: District must test, clean up In the wake of tests which revealed high lead levels in the drinking water at several city schools, the School District recently signed an agreement with the Health Department to test all sources of drinking water in city schools and take corrective action wherever dangerous lead […]
Philly School District blocks a federal study after health risks are exposed The crisis-wracked School District of Philadelphia has quietly abandoned a federal agency’s plans for further study of environmental-health risks in its aging school buildings. An initial review found pervasive dampness, mold or water damage — conditions that may aggravate asthma and other respiratory […]
Missing: Transparency at the SRC and School District “The SRC has to be a top-down modeling of the ethical practices we demand of our employees.” So said Michael Davis, general counsel for the School Reform Commission, at a meeting devoted to the topic of ethics. There is little evidence that this is happening. At a […]
The Impact of school facilities on learning Many educators maintain that the debate over how to improve education in the U.S. has ignored one critical element: the physical condition of schools. Students and teachers are held accountable for their performance, but it is extremely difficult to raise levels of academic achievement when teaching and learning […]
Quality Facilities Impact Achievement School facilities have the ability to play a powerful role in a student’s academic success. Quality learning environments are not only healthier, but also help children feel more safe, secure, and valued. As a result, self esteem increases and students are more motivated to engage in the learning process. Research indicates […]
Do Indoor Pollutants and Thermal Conditions in Schools Influence Student Performance To assess whether school environments can adversely affect academic performance, we review scientific evidence relating indoor pollutants and thermal conditions, in schools or other indoor environments, to human performance or attendance. We critically review evidence for direct associations between these aspects of indoor environmental […]