Is it getting too hot for summer school?

Schools across the country are struggling to keep students safe and learning as summer heat pushes past what many buildings can handle. In New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Wisconsin, Illinois, Rhode Island, and elsewhere, schools have canceled outdoor activities, dismissed students early, switched to remote days, or shut down summer programs entirely when temperatures climbed into the 90s and above. Even air-conditioned classrooms haven't always been enough, with some units unable to keep up during the worst heat.

The core problem is aging infrastructure. Public schools in the U.S. average nearly 50 years old, and a 2021 study estimated that over 13,000 public schools nationwide would need $40 billion combined to install proper HVAC systems. Some Northeast states, like Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, historically didn't need air conditioning but now do. Philadelphia's school buildings average 73 years old, making it difficult to simply retrofit window units.

For homeowners, the story is a reminder of how much difference building age and cooling capacity make once heat waves become longer and more frequent — a challenge not unlike what many older houses face. Children are especially vulnerable to heat because their bodies regulate temperature less efficiently than adults', and kids who lack air conditioning at both school and home get no real break from the heat. No federal rule currently requires water breaks, rest periods, or cooling areas for workers like teachers during extreme heat, so responses vary widely by school district and state.