Schools nationwide are struggling to operate summer programs amid record-breaking temperatures, with educators and administrators grappling with how to maintain educational progress while ensuring student safety during hazardous heat conditions.
In early July, New York City elementary teacher Martina Meijer experienced firsthand the challenges posed by inadequate cooling infrastructure when temperatures reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite air conditioning being operational, the system proved insufficient to maintain a safe learning environment. When she requested permission to move her class of 15 students to the gymnasium or outside for recess, school officials denied the request, citing weather hazards, and instructed her to keep students indoors while conducting digital movement activities. This scenario reflects a widespread problem affecting school districts from major metropolitan areas to rural communities, where malfunctioning air conditioning units and systems operating at capacity have forced administrators to make difficult operational decisions.
Multiple districts have responded to extreme heat by implementing various strategies, including early dismissals, virtual instruction days, and program cancellations. Philadelphia’s school district dismissed students early from 52 insufficiently air-conditioned schools in early June when temperatures climbed above safe levels. Washington, D.C. canceled all outdoor summer programs during the July Fourth week, while some midwestern districts like Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin and Central Falls School District in Rhode Island suspended or shut down summer programming entirely when forecasts predicted dangerous heat indices. Other districts have designated air-conditioned gymnasiums and libraries as cooling centers where students rotate throughout the day, supplemented by hydration stations and specialized cooling equipment.
Experts highlight particular vulnerability among summer school populations, as these students often require academic remediation or enrichment and already face learning challenges. Excessive heat impairs cognitive function, placing disadvantaged students at further disadvantage when attempting to catch up academically in suboptimal conditions. Children are especially susceptible to heat-related illnesses due to underdeveloped thermal regulation systems, and those without home air-conditioning face compounded risks with no opportunity for body recovery. The problem is intensified by aging school infrastructure—the average American public school building is nearly 50 years old, and upgrading these structures with modern HVAC systems would require approximately $40 billion nationwide.
Educators and climate experts emphasize the need for comprehensive long-term planning rather than reactive emergency measures. While temporary solutions like modified scheduling, moving activities indoors, and hydration breaks provide short-term relief, experts warn that without permanent infrastructure improvements and clear heat safety protocols, schools cannot adequately protect student health or support learning objectives during increasingly severe summer heat.
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