Giving Compass' Take:

• Laura Fay, writing for The 74, discusses the research behind the impact that school infrastructure and environment have on student learning. 

• How can funders get involved in enhancing school infrastructure? 

• Read more about the importance of school environments and the effects on students and teachers. 

Unusually cold weather along the East Coast in January forced some schools to cancel class for lack of heat, raising concerns about the state of infrastructure and equity in the nation’s schools.

Perhaps the most publicized and criticized, Baltimore City Public Schools, closed all schools for two days in the first week of January after 60 schools reported heating problems, and at least four were closed into the following week.

It may go without saying: Snow days may be joyous occasions, but learning suffers when students are not in school.

More important, schools with building problems tend to serve low-income students, who are much more likely to depend on school to provide breakfast and lunch. In some cases, no school equals nothing to eat.

Other research shows that the physical school environment can have profound effects on student learning. Multiple studies show that even when controlled for race and socioeconomic status, inadequate school buildings are correlated with lower test scores.

Read the full article on American school infrastructure by Laura Fay at The 74