What we are working on now
UndauntedK12 is working to ensure national, state, and local leaders place America’s K-12 schools at the center of efforts to modernize public infrastructure and create safer, healthier, more resilient learning environments for all students.
Clean and Healthy Schools are Electric: Our Report with Rewiring America
In “Clean and Healthy Schools are Electric: Aligning California’s School Infrastructure Investments with our Climate and Health Goals,” our new report with Rewiring America and UC Santa Barbara, we make the case for upgrading to all-electric HVAC systems with advanced filtration. This transition can deliver enormous educational and health benefits to California’s students and school staff, all while cutting operating costs.
Climate 100: Clean Energy and Resilient Schools Can Add $5.4B to California’s Climate Budget
In our guest post on NextGen Policy’s Climate 100 blog, we urged California’s lawmakers to align every dollar spent in K-12 infrastructure with building an equitable zero carbon future and ensure that our current actions work towards, and not against, the state’s 2045 goal.
Massachusetts’ 2022 Climate Law: Green & Healthy Schools Explained
Section 82 of H.5060 calls on a group of key state agencies to collaborate to assess the current state of our school buildings with an eye to eliminating fossil fuels and to recommend standards and strategies for advancing healthy, green schools. Here’s a quick take from us on some of the important passages in the bill.
The Climate Minute: Massachusetts legislative deadline approaches
Our co-founder Sara Ross appeared on the Massachusetts Climate Action Networks podcast “The Climate Minute” to talk to the host Ted McIntyre about how bills get a final vote in the Massachusetts’ legislature. Listen as they discuss one of many items up for consideration — a plan to examine how green and healthy our schools are.
Report: Gas Leaks at Massachusetts School Properties
We collaborated with HEET to perform a first-ever analysis of the prevalence of leaks in gas mains and service lines at school properties. (NOTE: All of the hazardous leaks we report on in this report have be repaired.)
UndauntedK12 OpEd: Earth Day is over, but there’s a lot more schools can do to address climate change
Read our latest OpEd with a call to action for political and district leaders across the country to lead use this opportunity to lead on climate resilient schools.
In Conversation with John King Jr. at The Broad Center Virtual Forum 2022
Watch UndauntedK12 co-founder Jonathan Klein in conversation with former U.S. Secretary of Education John King Jr. at the Broad Center at Yale’s annual forum.
The Financial Case for Net-Zero Schools
New evidence gleaned from districts across the country has an important message to heed: Building and renovating schools to achieve net-zero energy is the affordable option.
UndauntedK12 OpEd: Education and Climate Donors Should Join Forces to Develop Green Schools, Expand Climate Instruction
Read our latest OpEd in the Chronicle of Philanthropy with a call to action for education and climate grant makers
UndauntedK12 OpEd: How California leaders can advance climate-resilient schools now
Read our latest OpEd with a call to action for political leaders in California to lead on climate-ready schools.
Presenting at the US Department of Energy on K12 and an equitable transition to zero carbon
We were invited by the Department of Energy to share about opportunities for climate action within America’s schools.
Undaunted at the US Climate Action Center at COP26!
As part of COP26, Undaunted was invited to speak about the imperative of engaging our students and schools to address the climate emergency.
UndauntedK12 at the NAESCO Conference
Our presentation to the National Association of Energy Service Companies about supporting districts to use COVID relief funds to make durable improvements to facilities and grounds that will benefit current and future students' health, safety, and learning.
Investing in Healthy, Green Schools is Central to Advancing Equity
Using COVID relief funds to advance healthy, green schools is an opportunity to address systemic inequity in student access to high-quality learning environments and to ensure all students have the tools to thrive in a green economy and promote climate justice.
A Shifting Economy and Climate Require New Teaching
COVID relief funds offer an opportunity to invest in professional learning, curriculum, and partnerships to support social and emotional learning and prepare students to thrive in a changing climate.
Navigating A Changing World Requires Data and Planning
Districts that use COVID resources to invest in gathering insight and robust planning exercises will be both better positioned to attract additional resources and to navigate future challenges.
Efficient, Resilient Operations Save Money Today and Tomorrow
By using COVID relief funds to invest in energy efficiency and resilience, schools can turn one-time dollars into a stream of ongoing savings and reduce future disaster-related costs.
Healthy Schools Advance Student Learning and Success
Actionable information and resources for school districts and advocates as they consider how to use Federal COVID relief funds from the Center for Green Schools at USGBC and UndauntedK12.
Climate policymakers cannot afford to overlook the transformational power of K-12
There is no path to addressing climate change that does not involve the participation of K-12 schools. We partnered with New Buildings Institute and the Coalition for Climate Education Policy to offer a national perspective on the urgent role that our K-12 sector must play in our national climate strategy.
American Rescue Plan: Five Guiding Principles
Our guidance for states and districts to optimize Federal COVID relief funds to improve the health and sustainability of schools. Download here.