Last year was the hottest on record, and experts agree that 2024 will be even hotter. Because schools are not prepared for the extreme heat, everybody suffers. You may be surprised just how much the heat is affecting your student's grades, mood, and health.
Cognitive function decreases during excessive heat, leading to slower reaction times on assessments. Students learn less and perform worse on tests in hot classrooms. It can also make them irritable, edgy and unable to control emotions.
“Schools are not prepared for the extreme heat, and we need to change that now,” said Jonathan Klein, co-founder of UndauntedK-12, a nonprofit supporting climate action in public schoolsthat tracks school closures due to heat.
One study analyzed data from 4.5 million New York City high school exit exams to discover that scores were significantly lower on the standardized state test on a 90º day than on a 72º day. Further, it found the consequences were lasting: The study linked exam-time heat exposure with a lower likelihood of on-time high school graduation.
Research also demonstrates that people are more aggressive and violent when it's hot outside -- which can explain higher rates of bullying among students.
So many strong, sound reasons to find cooling solutions to protect your child. Until national legislature is passed to protect children from hot classrooms, parents need to take the matter into their own hands. #coolingheadbands are a cheap and effective place to start.
