WASHINGTON (July 13, 2007) – Yesterday, Congressman Ben Chandler reintroduced the 21st Century High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. This important bill would authorize $32 billion over five years in matching grants and loans to public school districts across the nation. The funds would be used for the construction and modernization of school facilities, technology upgrades and teacher technology training.
“The average public school building in the United States is over 40 years old. Once schools are beyond 40 years of age, they begin to deteriorate,” said Congressman Chandler. “After learning that one-third of public schools in America need extensive structural repairs, while two- thirds have troublesome environmental conditions, I knew that we could not wait any longer to provide critical resources for updating and modernizing our schools. If we don’t invest more in our children’s education system now, we will be forced to pay an exponentially higher amount in the future.”
The bill gives priority to those who need it most—school districts serving the greatest numbers and percentages of low-income students and those showing the greatest need for school construction and modernization.
“The state of our education system nationwide needs improvement, but in Kentucky, the conditions are even more worrisome,” said Chandler. “In 2006, Kentucky schools ranked ahead of only Mississippi and West Virginia in the area of technology infrastructure, and an alarming 47 percent of school facilities in Kentucky are ranked average to poor. Because a student’s academic achievement is tied to his or her learning environment, this is a very serious concern.”
School districts would be able to use the funds to repair or modernize school facilities; upgrade education and technology infrastructure; make public school facilities more energy-efficient; construct new facilities that ensure students’ health and safety; bring schools into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; undertake asbestos and lead abatement projects; reinstate funding for teacher technology training; and improve technological hardware and advanced computer workstations.
“I strongly believe that improving the quality of public schools in our country will improve students’ academic achievement and teacher retention,” said Chandler. “In order for the United States to remain a leader in the global economy for future generations, we must start addressing some of the most basic needs of our children and teachers—this legislation will do just that.”
####