Schools in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions have been forced to close or dismiss students early this week due to a heatwave that has been pounding the area with scorching temperatures. Heat days, which are the equivalent of snow days, have become more common as experts predict that the trend will continue in the coming years.
The combination of sweltering temperatures, high humidity, and lack of ventilation in older school buildings without air conditioning has created a toxic environment for students. As a result, it can be impossible for children to learn and even dangerous for their health. School leaders have made the difficult decision to send students home, even at the beginning of the school year.
While schools in Southern states have long recognized the necessity of air conditioning and typically have centralized systems in place, older cities in the Northeast did not consider cooling systems necessary when buildings were constructed decades ago. However, with climate change leading to hotter weather, the need for air conditioning in schools is becoming more apparent.
Several cities have already been affected by the heatwave. In Philadelphia, students at numerous schools without air conditioning were dismissed midday due to extreme heat. Baltimore schools without air conditioning either released students early or switched to remote learning. Schools in the Detroit area and across New Jersey also closed early, and classes were canceled in schools throughout Northeast Ohio.
Last month, Chicago teachers were instructed to conserve energy by keeping lights and computers off when possible. Students were advised to wear loose, light, cotton clothing, and athletic events and practices were postponed or canceled.
The heatwave, which began in central states over the weekend, has now expanded into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Record-breaking highs have been set in many places across the country, and more than 80 million Americans are under heat alerts.
Teachers like Megan Kennedy from Parma Community Middle and High School in northeast Ohio have been struggling with the heat in their classrooms. Kennedy’s second-floor classroom does not have air conditioning, so she brought her students to the auditorium where they could take advantage of the available air conditioning. Despite the challenges, Kennedy was relieved to learn that her school would be closed on Wednesday, as the idea of students passing out or falling ill from the heat adds additional stress to her day.
Shari Camhi, superintendent of the Baldwin Union Free School District on Long Island, recognized the need for change when she discovered a classroom with temperatures reaching 95 degrees last October. Realizing that learning was impossible in such an environment, Camhi secured a state grant to install air conditioning units in most classrooms just two days before the current heatwave hit. The units have been a game changer for the district, although they would have preferred central air conditioning, it would have been too costly for their older buildings.
A 2020 study by the Government Accountability Office revealed that 41 percent of public school districts in the United States need to update or replace heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in at least half of their schools. This represents around 36,000 schools across the country. The impact of extreme heat goes beyond comfort, as studies have shown that high temperatures significantly inhibit learning. Researchers found that students perform worse on standardized exams for every additional day of temperatures at or above 80 degrees.
As a result of these challenges, school cancellations have become more frequent. A study conducted by Paul Chinowsky, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado, found that a decade ago, school districts canceled an average of three or four days per year due to heat. Now, that number has doubled to six or seven days annually. Some communities have the financial means to make upgrades, such as the North Shore School District 112 near Chicago, which is investing over $200 million in modernizations, including adding air conditioning. However, these upgrades come at a significant cost, and communities must carefully consider how to fund these improvements to ensure the comfort and safety of their students.