Sadly, these closures take a big toll on students — particularly those from low-income communities and communities of color, who disproportionately bear the brunt of these catastrophes. A joint study by EdTrust and UndauntedK12 released earlier this year found that most of the students impacted by the recent Los Angeles wildfires are Latino and come from low-income households living in “fenceline” communities that lack consistent access to clean air and water, as well as safe housing. These students are also more likely to attend schools with less funding, fewer resources, and uneven access to educational opportunities, which are barriers to academic success. Climate change threatens to exacerbate those pre-existing inequities.

What’s more, research shows that for every week of missed school, students lose two to four weeks of learning. Studies also show that performance suffers as the temperature climbs, especially when schools lack air conditioning.

Now’s the time to teach students about the causes of climate change, as well as ways to mitigate its effects and prep for climate catastrophes. Schools should also be preparing students for the green jobs of the future. Unfortunately, the Trump administration undermining those efforts by replacing references to “climate change” in school curricula with teachings that deny climate science and the reality of global warming. And teachers are often unsure about how to cover the topics of climate change and climate justice in their classrooms.

Download the Brief (PDF)

A new EdTrust brief aims to address all that, while also highlighting the important connection between environmental justice and education equity. The brief outlines six principles that are crucial for increasing environmental literacy and advancing climate justice in schools:

• Principle 1: Student Agency
  Students’ school experiences should not only prepare them to be future leaders but also empower them to act now on the issues they care about most.
• Principle 2: Resource Equity
  Schools should have the resources and infrastructure necessary to create safe and nurturing learning envi­ronments for students.
• Principle 3: Social, Emotional, and Academic Development (SEAD)
  Schools should foster students’ social and emotional well-being, which is essential for their academic success.
• Principle 4: High-Quality Curricula and Instruction
  Schools should provide an action-oriented, solutions-based curriculum and instruction for students.
• Principle 5: STEM Identity
  Students should have access to an engaging and meaningful STEM curriculum that connects to their identities and local contexts.
• Principle 6: College and Career Readiness
  Students need a high-quality, relevant career-connected education that challenges them and pre­pares them for the present and future.

EdTrust’s hope is that by focusing on these principles, state and district education leaders, decision-makers, and schools can help students build resilience and empower them to face the real threat of climate change head on, so they can push for potential solutions that will create a safer and more just world.