UndauntedK12’s 2023 Year in Review

2023 has been a year of growth and impact for UndauntedK12. Every day, we are energized by the opportunity to advance healthy, decarbonized, climate-resilient schools, and this year we are especially encouraged by the unprecedented federal funding available for schools to install clean energy technologies that support student health and reduce operating costs.

In our third year, we expanded our reach by actively collaborating with new states, engaging new partners, and adding three full-time team members. We also established UndauntedK12 as an independent 501(c)3 and launched our first annual fundraising appeal which you can support by making a donation through December 31.

We are thankful to all of you for being a part of our work and network. Below is a review of some of our biggest accomplishments in partnership with so many of you that made an impact in 2023. Here’s to the great things we will accomplish together in 2024!

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HVAC Choices for Student Health and Learning.  In partnership with RMI, we kicked off the year with the release of this report which makes a strong case for transitioning to all-electric, high-performance HVAC systems in America’s schools. The report

HVAC Choices for Student Health and Learning.  In partnership with RMI, we kicked off the year with the release of this report which makes a strong case for transitioning to all-electric, high-performance HVAC systems in America’s schools. The report has become the standard for the field. Throughout the year we actively road-showed the frameworks and findings at conferences, on webinars, and with the US Department of Education.

We launched the Climate Ready Schools Coalition that is leading the conversation about school infrastructure and climate in California. This year, we collectively published a wide-reaching report on Climate-Resilient California Schools, and co-sponso

We launched the Climate Ready Schools Coalition that is leading the conversation about school infrastructure and climate in California. This year, we collectively published a wide-reaching report on Climate-Resilient California Schools, and co-sponsored Senate Bill 394, which had overwhelming bipartisan support, passing by an overall 115-1 in the Senate and Assembly before being vetoed by the Governor over concerns about the lack of budgeted funds to support the planning process.

America's School Decarbonizers Collaborative. This regular convening of over 50 climate, education, and advocacy partners meets monthly with the collective goal of shaping a timely and coordinated approach to engage schools and states about opportuni

America's School Decarbonizers Collaborative. This regular convening of over 50 climate, education, and advocacy partners meets monthly with the collective goal of shaping a timely and coordinated approach to engage schools and states about opportunities within the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Schools and the IRA Website. This fall, we released a new digital resource that provides digestible and up-to-date information on how unlimited, non-competitive tax credits available until 2033 and beyond can now be accessed by schools installing eli

Schools and the IRA Website. This fall, we released a new digital resource that provides digestible and up-to-date information on how unlimited, non-competitive tax credits available until 2033 and beyond can now be accessed by schools installing eligible clean energy technologies.

This fall, we actively engaged with partners in Maryland and Wisconsin on strategies to raise awareness throughout the states’ school building communities, and we’re in discussion with additional states (with a focus on 2024 battlegrounds) to continu

This fall, we actively engaged with partners in Maryland and Wisconsin on strategies to raise awareness throughout the states’ school building communities, and we’re in discussion with additional states (with a focus on 2024 battlegrounds) to continue our awareness building push in 2024. We also presented to two cohorts of district and county CFOs organized by Education Resource Strategies who together impact close to 2.2 million students.

Our new School Board Member Climate Action Toolkit, developed in partnership with School Board Partners and This is Planet ED at the Aspen Institute, helps school board members to understand their role in driving meaningful climate solutions.

Our new School Board Member Climate Action Toolkit, developed in partnership with School Board Partners and This is Planet ED at the Aspen Institute, helps school board members to understand their role in driving meaningful climate solutions.

This fall, we partnered with the Massachusetts state school construction authority on a roundtable for the school building community about the Inflation Reduction Act with more than 250 participants from over 60 school districts.

This fall, we partnered with the Massachusetts state school construction authority on a roundtable for the school building community about the Inflation Reduction Act with more than 250 participants from over 60 school districts.

UndauntedK12’s voice and work were regularly featured in national and local media throughout 2023.

UndauntedK12’s voice and work were regularly featured in national and local media throughout 2023.

Our first cohort of the California Youth Climate Policy (CYCP) graduated 40+ high school leaders this December. In partnerships with our friends at Ten Strands and Sierra Cub San Francisco Bay, we launched a new youth leadership program centered on e

Our first cohort of the California Youth Climate Policy (CYCP) graduated 40+ high school leaders this December. In partnerships with our friends at Ten Strands and Sierra Cub San Francisco Bay, we launched a new youth leadership program centered on empowering high school students to enact real change in their school or district.  Our graduates spent the past six months forming coalitions of their peers and teachers, drafting school board resolutions and policies, and showing up to school board meetings to advocate and agitate to advance climate action, climate resilience, and climate literacy.

We more than doubled our capacity this year, with Jaime Cobham, Sarah Heine, and Stephanie Seidmon joining the team. Together, we have ambitious goals for 2024!

We more than doubled our capacity this year, with Jaime Cobham, Sarah Heine, and Stephanie Seidmon joining the team. Together, we have ambitious goals for 2024!