GAO reports 2 million students lose school days to facility closures

The Government Accountability Office estimates that 19 percent of public school districts canceled school during the 2024-25 year because of facility issues, affecting an estimated 2 million students and resulting in a loss of about 3.5 million days of learning.

GAO's nationwide survey found that 47 percent of districts reported chronic facility problems that often disrupted instruction. The most common triggers for cancellations were plumbing emergencies and extreme indoor temperatures; in one visited district, school was closed after classroom temperatures reached 110 degrees.

Funding constraints were cited by a majority of districts. GAO estimates that 55 percent of districts considered their most recent facilities budget insufficient, and 73 percent said limited state formula funding hindered their ability to meet facility needs. To manage costs, districts reported investing in preventive maintenance, strategic planning, leveraging expertise, and building community support for capital projects.

State policies received mixed reviews. Some states have directed dedicated revenue sources, such as excise taxes, to school facilities and offered incentives for preventive maintenance. Others have assisted districts by providing adaptable building-design plans and expediting permitting to keep capital projects on schedule and within budget.

The report is based on a nationally representative survey of public school districts with a weighted response rate of 62 percent and a margin of error of no more than plus or minus 7 percentage points. GAO also visited nine districts in Alabama, Maine, and Oregon, selected for variation in spending per student, geography, and receipt of federal Supporting America's School Infrastructure grant funds, and reviewed state reports and interviews with Department of Education officials.