New GAO Report Details School Facility Needs Nationally

In September, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report documenting the real-world consequences of deferred maintenance and aging school facilities, finding that nearly 20 percent of school districts were forced to cancel school during the 2024-25 school year due to facility problems. These problems affected an estimated 2 million students and resulted in approximately 3.5 million lost days of learning. Plumbing emergencies, HVAC failures, and extreme classroom temperatures were among the leading causes of closures, with one district reporting classroom temperatures reaching 110 degrees.  

The report also found that nearly half of school districts experienced chronic facility issues that regularly disrupted teaching and learning. For superintendents, these findings validate what AASA and others have been saying for years: facility challenges are directly connected to student achievement, staff retention, attendance, and operational stability. The GAO report found that 55% of district leaders believed their most recent facilities budget is insufficient to meet their needs, but when districts are forced to defer maintenance, minor issues can quickly become major disruptions, driving up long-term costs and creating avoidable interruptions to instruction.  

The report also highlights an important lesson for district leaders and policymakers alike: preventive maintenance matters. GAO found that districts with limited capacity to conduct preventive maintenance experienced more chronic facility problems and more instructional disruptions. Superintendents interviewed for the study described using a variety of strategies to stretch limited resources, including long-term facilities planning, strategic investments in maintenance, cost-saving measures, and community engagement around capital projects.  

Perhaps most importantly, the report reinforces the need for stronger state and federal partnerships. Nearly three-quarters of district leaders reported that limited state formula funding hindered their ability to address facility needs. Yet the report points to promising state approaches, including dedicated revenue streams for school facilities, incentives for preventive maintenance, and technical assistance that helps districts complete projects on time and within budget. As AASA continues to advocate for a robust, new federal role in supporting school infrastructure, the third largest school infrastructure we have as a nation, this new report serves as a powerful reminder that students cannot learn effectively in buildings that are unsafe, unhealthy, or unable to support modern instruction. School facility investments are investments in students themselves, creating the safe, healthy, and effective learning environments they need to thrive.