Due simply to their age, many schools are in need of basic repairs and routine maintenance. To add to the problem, many school buildings have been poorly maintained. Declines in general school funding over the last 20 years led many districts to defer preventive maintenance expenses in order to maintain education programs. As a result, some school facilities are now in a state of serious physical disrepair. In addition, a major investment in modernization is essential to enable schools to use computers and other technology as part of their instructional program.
Many older classrooms have one or two electrical outlets, and no telephone connections.
School districts are also required to comply with a variety of federal mandates. These include removing safety hazards such as asbestos and radon, and making sure school programs are accessible to people with disabilities. In general, these mandates add to the cost of renovation, repair, or construction projects. Facilities Directly Affect Student Achievement Research evidence and common sense both indicate that there is a minimum level of quality for a school facility below which student and teacher effectiveness can be seriously compromised. A variety of studies conducted since 1982 throughout the United States indicate that students achieve less in school buildings which are situated on noisy streets, have too many students for their capacity, or cannot be adequately and safely maintained.