Education in the United States and around the world faces significant challenges during heatwaves, and teachers are voicing their concerns. Teachers in Columbus, Ohio, staged a three-day strike in 2022 because of unsafe classroom conditions, including insufficient air conditioning in 25% of schools. As a result, all schools will be equipped with heating and cooling systems by 2025–26.
On a 90°F (32°C) day, students are 11% less likely to pass exams compared to a 72°F day. Cool classrooms improve performance by about 78%.*
Key Data Takeaways on Extreme Heat and US Public Schools
Extreme heat impacts education: Temperatures exceeding 30°C/86°F negatively affect student concentration, knowledge acquisition and exam performance. The longer the heatwave, the more severe these impacts become.
Geographic variability factors into learning disruptions: The effects of extreme heat on schools vary across the world due to differences in climate and infrastructure. Schools located in hotter regions are more likely to experience significant disruptions.
Climate change exacerbates the problem: Under a “business as usual” scenario, extreme heat events are projected to become more frequent, longer-lasting and more intense. This will significantly increase the challenges faced by schools and educators.
Primary Effects of Heatwaves on Education Outcomes for Children
Extreme heat poses health risks and exposes staff and children to illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. This can disrupt attendance and create a stressful learning and working environment. Schools and communities in high-temperature areas of the world are especially at risk. Primary effects include the following:
1. Decreased Learning Outcomes
Cognitive impairment: High temperatures can impair cognitive function, making it difficult for students to concentrate, focus and retain information. This can lead to decreased academic performance and increased behavioural issues.
Reduced test scores: Studies have shown a correlation between higher temperatures and lower test scores.
Increased absenteeism: Heat can lead to heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, causing students to miss school.
2. Disrupted School Schedules
Early dismissals: Schools, especially older institutions, may lack adequate cooling systems. Administrators may be forced to shorten the school day—or even close entirely on extremely hot days—to protect students and staff from health risks.
Delayed start times: Some schools have implemented later start times to allow for cooler morning temperatures.
3. Inequitable Impact
Disadvantaged communities: Schools in lower-income neighbourhoods may be more vulnerable to heat-related problems due to inadequate cooling systems or a lack of resources to mitigate heat effects. This can aggravate existing educational disparities.
Students from marginalized groups: Students who are homeless, lack air conditioning at home or have underlying health conditions may be disproportionately affected by heatwaves.
Learning in the Eye of a Storm: Extreme Weather’s Toll on Education
In the face of escalating climate change, heatwaves and other extreme weather events increasingly disrupt public education systems, particularly in vulnerable communities. In this video, David Picton, SVP, ESG & Sustainability, EcoOnline discusses impacts of extreme weather events on education.
3 Takeaways on the Educational Impact
Education can be deeply impacted by extreme weather: It also increases the risk of already vulnerable populations—and children are often most affected.
Learning days lost: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, schools were used as shelters. Further, schools needed repairs due to flooding. Additionally, displacement and job loss affected children’s learning.
Generation Katrina - 50,000 kids lost a year of school: Nearly five years after Katrina, 40% of children still had unstable learning, and 20% were emotionally distressed.
Mitigation Strategies
Various mitigation strategies can be implemented to address the increasing threat of heatwaves to public schools.
Infrastructure upgrades: Investing in energy-efficient cooling systems and building design can mitigate heatwave effects on schools.
Emergency preparedness: Schools should develop emergency plans for heatwaves, including procedures for monitoring heat-related illnesses, providing shade and hydration and cancelling classes when necessary.
Educational awareness: Students and staff should be educated about heatwave risks and safety.
Policy changes: Governments can implement policies to address climate change impacts on education, such as funding school infrastructure upgrades and supporting research on heat-related health risks.
As climate change intensifies, heatwaves will pose greater challenges to public education. Addressing these challenges will require a comprehensive and coordinated approach involving schools, communities and governments.
40 to 60% of US schools have partial air conditioning, with poorer districts often lacking adequate HVAC systems.*
Case Study: What Can We Learn From Arizona
From May to September, Arizona ranks among the hottest places on Earth. Between 2015 and 2018, an average of 210 children aged 5 to 19 were treated annually in hospital emergency departments for heat-related illnesses. To address this, the Arizona School Heat Preparedness Plan, developed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), offers practical recommendations for K-12 schools to reduce the impact of extreme heat on students.
The plan is grounded in the Hierarchy of Controls framework from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which guides effective measures to minimise occupational hazards. ADHS has adapted this framework specifically for schools, outlining strategies to help prevent heat-related illnesses among students. The plan also provides a range of heat mitigation practices that schools can consider and customize based on their unique environment and available resources.
Learn More About This Situation
A Comprehensive Strategy To Address Extreme Heat In Schools — FAS
HeatReady Schools: A novel approach to enhance adaptive capacity to heat — ScienceDirect
Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development — The Center of American Progress
What Educators Need to Know About Schools and Hot Weather — Education Week
News Stories We’re Following
Classrooms across the US are heating up. School districts need cooling beyond AC— AP
Extreme heat shuts schools for millions, widening learning gaps worldwide — Reuters
Students are sweating through class without air conditioning. Districts are facing the heat. — USA Today
Louisiana town the canary in the coalmine as climate effects worsen – The Guardian
Warm Oceans Strengthened Hurricane Francine and Could Power More Fall Storms – US News
VXS-1 Squadron Leads the Charge, Tracking Hurricane Francine in Real-Time – United States Navy
*Notes and Sources
Data Source
All data has been created by EcoOnline using outputs from the EC-Earth3-Veg-LR model. This model is part of the Phase 6 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6).
Citations
Döscher, R, (et al): The EC-Earth3 Earth System Model for the Climate Model Intercomparison Project 6, Geoscientific Model Development. Discuss. [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2020-446, in review, 2021.
EC-Earth Consortium (EC-Earth) (2020). EC-Earth-Consortium EC-Earth3-Veg-LR model output prepared for CMIP6 historical (v20200217), SSP1-1.9 (v20201201), SSP2-4.5 (v20201123) and SSP5-8.5 (v20201201) experiments. Earth System Grid Federation.