By Petra Sucher��

For school districts across the country, summer signals the beginning of the busiest season for capital planning and construction. As students leave campus, crews mobilize to complete renovations, infrastructure improvements and new construction projects, many of which are made possible through voter-approved bond referendums. Understanding where districts are in the funding pipeline — and where the next opportunities are emerging — has become increasingly important for architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturers and service providers looking to support K-12 capital programs. By tracking bond activity from the earliest planning stages through election outcomes, SchoolBondFinder provides a real-time view of how districts are prioritizing facility investments and where the market is headed.����

SchoolBondFinder��specializes in tracking K-12 capital project bonds across the nation.��The��platform monitors school district bond initiatives across key stages, providing stakeholders with crucial data on project scope, financing, and voter outcomes.��

• Watch List:��Districts may be added to this list following initial activities such as a facilities study, demographic study, capital improvement plans review or a feasibility survey.��
• Proposed List: A bond is moved to this list once a school board officially approves a referendum for a vote. At this point, the vote date, official ballot language, use and amount are finalized.��
• Passed/Failed List:��Updates on school bond referendum votes — both passed��and��failed — are typically available on the platform within 24 to 72 hours of the official results being released.��

Quarter 2 (April 1-June 30):��

For the second quarter,��$22.6 billion in referendums have been approved as of��June 15. There are currently��10��voting opportunities��remaining��through the end of June, with an estimated value of��$632 Million. To date, June elections have passed��25��bonds and��13��have��failed, resulting in a��52%��pass rate. Currently there is��a strong��support and focus on bonds that address physical facility needs and safety upgrades.

One pattern emerging is that school districts are combining physical infrastructure and safety upgrades into single, comprehensive bond packages rather than funding them separately. Approximately 47%��of passed bonds for Q2 focused on��allocated funds for safety and security upgrades. Examples of safety and security enhancements��are��installing secure entrances, security cameras and alarm systems.����

��Top 3 States for Q2 Bond Measures:��

1. Texas: $11 billion across 92 measures��
2. Georgia: $1 billion across 13 measures��
3. Michigan: $1 billion across 33 measures��

The Start of the Fiscal Year

The K-12 education funding cycle begins on July 1 and concludes on June 30 for 46 states. This period serves as “go time” for school districts, as they activate new funding streams, issue bonds and authorize summer capital construction projects. The end of the school year provides an ideal window for infrastructure work, such as roof replacements and HVAC upgrades, to begin.��

The timing is critical because many local school boards submit architectural plans to state education agencies before the July 1 deadline to secure early approval for both plans and funding. To effectively capture capital projects and bond opportunities, education companies must prioritize early engagement with school boards and districts before the new fiscal year begins. It is critical for firms to establish themselves as a trusted, value-add partner and to ensure their offerings align with specific district needs.��

Upcoming Elections and Events

Currently SchoolBondFinder is tracking $50 billion in opportunities for 2026, with many watchlist items with no funds attached yet. August elections are around the corner with 28��bonds on the proposed list. These elections will primarily take place in Oklahoma and Michigan. ��

On Aug. 5, SchoolBondFinder will be in Denver presenting at the 91ԭƬ Design & Construction Symposium. Experts will be talking about 2026 State of School Tax Elections: Outcomes & Outlooks. This informative session will review the current K-12 school referendum landscape in the U.S., including total funding and approved opportunities, trends in capital projects and spending, and forecasts for the rest of 2026 into 2027. Register today.

With nearly $50 billion in tracked opportunities already on the horizon for 2026—and many additional projects still in the planning stages before funding amounts are determined — the K-12 capital market continues to present significant opportunities for industry partners. For firms serving the education sector, success depends not only on monitoring election results but on understanding where districts are in the planning process and engaging well before projects reach the construction phase. As the new fiscal year begins and districts move from planning to procurement, those that establish themselves as trusted resources early will be best positioned to support the next generation of school facilities. SchoolBondFinder will continue to monitor these trends throughout the year, providing timely data and insights into the evolving landscape of school funding, capital investment and construction nationwide.��

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HILLSBORO, Ore. — At its regular session meeting on Tuesday, May 26, Hillsboro School Board members voted unanimously to place the Hillsboro School District’s (HSD) $430 capital construction bond on the November 2026 ballot.

The approved bond program��contains��projects for every school and district building across six broad project areas: buildings and systems, safety and security, Career and College Pathways, Extracurriculars, technology and cybersecurity, and support services.��

If successful in November, the bond would allow HSD to address aging infrastructure like roofs and HVAC systems, modernize educational settings that engage and prepare students, improve and expand extracurricular spaces like lighted turf fields for year-round student and community use, and enhance safety and security districtwide, among many other priorities.����

Capital construction bonds like this one are the only mechanism school districts have for making significant investments in systems and structures. The State School Fund dollars��allocated��to districts each year are��really only��meant to fund daily operations (primarily staff-related costs) and incidental maintenance and repairs.��

By the fall of 2026, taxpayers will have paid off some of HSD’s��previous��bonds. This creates an opportunity to fill in the gap with a new bond to generate capital investment money for district projects, while keeping the current tax rate consistent. HSD estimates a repayment rate of��approximately $1.84��per $1000 of assessed property value, which is 18 cents per thousand less than the��average of��rates paid since the passage of the district’s��previous��bond in 2017.����

Wherever possible, the district will seek opportunities to��leverage��partnerships, incentives, and grants to maximize our bond dollars and make them go further, highlighting HSD’s commitment to good stewardship of the community’s investment.��

In a 2019 bond,��the district invested heavily in safety and security upgrades at all schools, including��Seismic and roofing upgrades, Playground��upgrades��and Parent/bus drop-off improvements. The bond also supported extensive renovation and repair efforts at the district’s aging schools, focused on��HVAC,��plumbing��and electrical upgrades; remodeling projects; and the replacement of 15 temporary portable classrooms. Efforts to relieve crowded classrooms and plan for growth included the construction of separate gymnasiums at elementary schools that currently share gym and cafeteria space��as well as the expansion of Evergreen Middle School and Glencoe High School��and the construction of one new elementary school in North Plains, one new elementary school in South Hillsboro, and replacement of Brookwood Elementary School. The bond also extended to��new technology, flexible classroom��furniture��and the expansion of career and technical education spaces at all��district��high schools.����

The district has implemented an����of all proposed projects.��

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By Petra��Sucher��

SchoolBondFinder��specializes in tracking K-12 capital project bonds across the nation. The platform monitors school district bond initiatives across key stages, providing stakeholders with crucial data on project scope, financing, and voter outcomes. In March,��SchoolBondFinder��shared first-quarter updates and referendum insights for the 2025 and��2026 election��cycles.��

The research team is actively updating��the platform with the latest election results with a “boots on the ground” approach. Most updates for referendum votes are reflected within 24 to��72 hours��of��passage.����

Read more for��an in-depth look at April and May results, highlighting essential insights for the 2026 K-12 bond market.��

An Overview of April Elections��

For��April��a majority of elections occurred on April 7.��Approximately��80%��of the bonds (120 out of 150) passed,��whereas��30��failed. The total value for both passed and failed bonds amounts to��$4B.����Most��districts focused on infrastructure and safety. Missouri and Oklahoma were the most active states this month. Missouri had��64��bonds��and Oklahoma had��39��bonds.����

Key Districts:��

Wayzata, Minn.��($450,000,000):��

• Scope:��New construction of a��public��elementary��school and a middle school,��as��well��as��classroom and lab additions at the high school,��kitchen��and cafeteria��expansions,��and gymnasium additions.��
• Status:��Passed��

Tulsa, Okla.��($276,000,000):��

• Scope:��Extensive renovations��to an existing public school,��including new classrooms, kitchens, ADA compliance upgrades, HVAC��systems��and roofing across multiple sites.��
• Status:��Passed��

Howard-Suamico, Wis.��(147,000,000)��

• Scope:��New classroom additions and gymnasiums at three elementary schools,��plus Career and Technical Education��labs and��performing-arts��spaces at the high school.��
• Status:��Passed

Dallas Independent School District Passes $6.2 Billion in Bonds ��

On May 2, voters approved��92��of��118��propositions for a passage rate of��78%, which is consistent with national trends. Many Texas school districts had multiple propositions on the ballot. In Texas 10 out of 26 failed, most having to do with athletic propositions.��

Dallas��Independent School District��passed��its��bond package worth��$6.2 billion, the��largest in Texas history.��Proposition A��will fund new construction to replace 26 schools and��expand��existing schools, adding classrooms to��eliminate��portables.��It will also��fund efforts to:��

• Renovate��and modernize every campus across the district��

• Remove the district’s 700 remaining portable classrooms��

• Enhance safety and security at all campuses��

• Upgrade school furniture, student technology, and transportation, including new school buses��

• Improve physical education facilities and repair swimming pools��

The bond package��will be broken up into��four propositions to ensure transparency and flexibility. This bond package will leave a generational mark not just for the funding amount, but for the scope of the��project.��

Movement in Michigan,��Ohio��and Montana��

There were��79��propositions on the ballot for May 5, most in��Michigan, Ohio, and Montana with a mix of bonds and levies. For reference,��a school bond election is a bond issue used by a public school district, typically to finance a building project or other capital project. These measures are placed on the ballot by district school boards to be approved or defeated by the voting public or taxing authority.��A��levy is a short-term, local property tax passed by the voters of a school district that generates revenue for the district to fund programs and services that the state does not fund. Levies are used mostly for operational expenditures.����

In total,��43��propositions with a value of��$2��billion��passed��on May 5,��whereas��36��propositions worth��$1.6��billion��failed. The number of bonds passed��represents��a passage rate of just 54%, lagging historic national trends.����

A recent trend��observed��by��SchoolBondFinder��researchers this year involves districts requesting earned income tax levies to fund construction projects,��either by itself or combined with another funding source like a bond.��Researchers��typically see this for operating levies, but districts in the State of Ohio asking for this to accommodate their construction needs is new.��Districts may��attempt��to attract older voters by��utilizing��earned income tax levies, as these measures do not��impact��that demographic in the same way increasing property taxes do.��There were three earned income tax levies on the ballot this month in��Ohio��and all three failed.��

Other May Bond Decisions��

Voters considered��16��total propositions during this election cycle, resulting in��six��passing and��10��failing.��Bonds were approved in Mississippi, Massachusetts, Nebraska (2 districts),��Minnesota��and West Virginia. With most of the propositions focused on new construction.��

• Passed Amount: Totaling $498,285,000��
• Failed Amount: Totaling $342,648,950��

There��were��a total of��127��propositions that went to vote��on May 19. Of those,��113��passed for��a passage rate of��88%. The majority of those on the ballot occurred in New York.��A total of��94��bonds��passed, totaling over��$1��billion��in New York.��

Factors Influencing District Priority Shifts��

In addition to the well-known challenges of declining enrollment and district operational difficulties, several other factors are at play��school consolidations,��expiration��of Cares Act funding, voter resistance to specific measures��and a��downward trend in birth rates.��These changes suggest districts may be pivoting priorities to better serve local needs and moving away from projects fueled by federal programs.����

Key Focus Areas for Passed Bonds��

Despite these challenges, passed bonds are still showing��strong support��for key focus areas, such as specialty areas,��HVAC systems, athletic facilities, instructional spaces, and electrical��and��lighting upgrades.

SchoolBondFinder��is��currently tracking roughly��$49��billion��of opportunities, with many of��the organization’s��Watchlist items having no money attached yet.��Researchers��are tracking��more than��1,726��bonds as of May 22.��Elections��in June and August are around the corner and will be featured alongside��the��2026 Q2 updates and researcher insights��this summer.

Petra Sucher is the Marketing Engagement & Analytics Manager for .

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As school districts nationwide grapple with aging infrastructure, evolving educational models and heightened community expectations, K-12 bond measures have become a critical mechanism for funding transformation. Beyond simple capital campaigns, these referendums reflect shifting priorities around safety,��flexibility��and long-term facility performance.����

Recognizing the critical value of connecting readers with bond- and referendum-related insights, 91ԭƬ is proud to announce a new partnership with����that will bring��SchoolBondFinder’s��expertise��and capital project bond insights to 91ԭƬ readers.��SchoolBondFinder��provides a data-driven lens into how districts are planning,��proposing��and delivering projects—offering��stakeholders��a clearer view of where investment is occurring and how those decisions are shaping the future of learning environments.��

The School Bond Finder K-12 Bond Platform����

SchoolBondFinder��specializes in tracking K-12 capital project bonds across the nation. Our platform monitors school district bond initiatives across key stages, providing stakeholders with crucial data on project scope, financing, and voter outcomes.��

• Watch List:��Districts may be added to this list following initial activities such as a facilities study, demographic study, capital improvement plans review, or a feasibility survey.��
• Proposed List: A bond is moved to this list once a school board officially approves a referendum for a vote.��At this point, the vote date, official ballot language, use, and amount are��finalized.��
• Passed/Failed List:��Updates on school bond referendum votes—both��passed��and��failed—are typically available on our platform within 24 to��72 hours��of the official results being released.��

A Recap of 2025 Bonds��

As the first quarter of 2026 wraps��up��it is important to look back at 2025 for reference. In 2025��SchoolBondFinder��tracked��$91��Billion worth of bonds. Approximately��$69.2��billion��passed,��whereas��$22.7��billion��failed. The overall passage rate for 2025 was��75%, which aligns with the trend��observed��over the last few years. Our research team tracks school bond activity nationwide, with the highest total bond amounts recorded in Texas ($18.4 billion), California ($6.1 billion), Ohio ($3.5 billion), Washington ($3.4 billion), and Pennsylvania ($3.0 billion) in 2025.��

Historic Trends��

The chart below illustrates spending amounts for both passed and failed referendums over the past eight years. Election years typically show an increase in both the number and total value of bonds proposed, a��trend often attributed to higher voter turnout during presidential elections, which can improve referendum passage rates.��

An eight-year longitudinal analysis (2018–2025) highlights consistent trends in K-12 bond funding, offering insight into evolving educational priorities. During this period, bond measures most��frequently��supported the following project areas:��

• Speciality��Areas����
• Instructional Areas��
• Athletic Facilities��
• HVAC��SystemsElectrical��and Lighting Upgrades��
• Electrical / Lighting Upgrades��

Given that most instructional buildings were built before the 1970s, it is no surprise that infrastructure upgrades are a top priority for school districts. Capital improvements continue to be focused on modernizing student learning environments. These spaces include classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and specialized facilities. The goal is student-centered learning, achieved through flexible environments that incorporate mobile furniture, integrated technology, and versatile layouts.��

2026 Year to Date – First Quarter��

As of March 2026, approximately��$6��billion��in K–12 bonds have been approved.��Roughly��267��bond measures were tracked in the first quarter, resulting in a��70%��passage rate. Approved bonds were concentrated primarily in specialty areas (ie��cafeterias, sensory rooms, admin spaces), HVAC systems, and instructional spaces. The top three states (WA, KS, and IL) account for about��66%��of the total bond amount passed in Q1.����

2026 Bond Priorities��

The��SchoolBondFinder��database is currently tracking a total of��1,478��bonds scheduled for 2026 and beyond, as of March. Approximately��117��bonds are scheduled to go to vote throughout��the month of April, with more elections scheduled in May and June. The combined Proposed and Watch List bonds��represent��approximately��$56 billion��in potential opportunity.����

K-12 School bonds are currently prioritizing construction, capital improvements, technology upgrades, and security enhancements. Many districts are��seeking��smaller, more targeted amounts for referendums, which may be more appealing to taxpayers and could be a more achievable strategy compared to large, multimillion-dollar bonds.��

• Facility Longevity and Maintenance: There is a growing focus on facility longevity and maintenance over expansion. Renovation and repair projects are the most frequent, while new construction and major system/envelope upgrades��represent��higher-value contracts.��
• Student-Centric Modernization:��A significant portion��of bond funding targets modernization and expansion of areas directly��impacting��student learning and extracurricular activities. This includes projects focused on flexible learning spaces, modern classrooms, and auditorium renovations, showing a high demand for multi-purpose furniture solutions.��
• Infrastructure and Safety: Basic infrastructure��remains��a consistent priority. Projects related to safety/security and system/building envelope upgrades, such as HVAC replacement, roof repairs, and��security��show a commitment to the health, safety, and long-term goals of school facilities.��

More Info and Insights to Come��

Looking ahead, the trajectory of K-12 bond funding��suggests a more strategic, targeted approach to capital investment—one that balances fiscal realities with the urgent need to modernize facilities. As districts continue to prioritize infrastructure resilience, student-centered design and operational efficiency, access to��timely, reliable data will remain essential. Platforms like��SchoolBondFinder��are critical resources for A/E/C stakeholders,��providing��the in-depth insights necessary for better decision-making and efficient��utilization��of K-12 funding opportunities.��

Watch for quarterly insights from��SchoolBondFinder��to learn more about upcoming opportunities.��

Petra Sucher is the Marketing Engagement & Analytics Manager with��.��

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TRENTON, N.J.��—��New Jersey Gov.��Mikie Sherrill delivered her inaugural budget address��earlier this month, outlining her��administration’s plan to��protect children’s futures��through a��$12.4 billion��investment in K-12 schools for FY 2027.

“My budget is focused on ensuring kids in New Jersey have access to the best education and brightest possible future,” said Sherrill. “The budget includes a record level of K-12 school funding, while acknowledging that much more work is needed to make sure students and taxpayers get the best return on our investment. It lays the foundation for future improvements – like stronger academic and mental health outcomes, shared services, and more efficient spending – to better support children from birth through graduation and strengthen schools statewide.”

The $60.7 billion budget includes a proposed surplus of $5.4 billion, while redirecting over 74 percent of the total budget back into New Jersey communities in the form of grants-in-aid for property tax relief, social services, and higher education, as well as state aid to schools, municipalities, and counties.

Among plans to increase affordability and increase government accountability, the budget prioritizes investing in education. Sherrill proposes a record breaking $12.4 billion for K-12 schools in FY 2027, the largest amount in state history and a $370 million increase over last year’s funding. The budget also includes a record $1.4 billion for Preschool Education Aid. Sherrill added that she looks forward to working with the Legislature to modernize and stabilize the school funding formula.������

In preparation for New Jersey’s first cell phone-free school year this fall, the proposal includes $125,000 for the new Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness in the Department of Health. The office will research and make recommendations to guide responsible use of social media platforms among youth. The budget also includes $500,000 for a new Social Media Research Center at one of New Jersey’s higher education institutions.����

An allocation of $15 million for high-impact tutoring — double the amount of FY 2026 m— would help nearly 100 more districts and 13,500 more students, with the goal to accelerate learning and address academic achievement gaps spurred by the pandemic. The budget would also provide 21,000 schoolchildren with free meals through the Working-Class Families Anti-Hunger Act.��

The announcement reflects a continuation of policy choices aligned with Sherrill’s goals to modernize and stabilize the School Funding Reform Act, which provide the blueprint for New Jersey’s state aid formula. The budget limits reductions in state aid to no more than 3 percent, which will prevent the loss of an additional $188.4 million for school districts. Without a limit to cuts, some districts have faced losses of up to 60 percent of their state aid in recent years. These limits on reductions are offset by a 6 percent limit on state aid increases, ensuring overall stability while recognizing the need for annual adjustments.

The New Jersey Department of Education will use a three-year average when determining local fair share, which is the amount of funding a local school district is expected to contribute toward its own budget based on its property wealth and income. Using a multi-year average minimizes year-to-year fluctuations.

To ensure state aid reflects the real needs of districts, the NJDOE will use actual special education enrollment numbers to determine funding levels, instead of the approach used in years past of relying on a statewide average for all districts. State aid allocations are available on .

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What You Need to Know��

• Maine’s Governor’s Commission on School Construction is urging changes to how projects are planned, prioritized and funded, citing rising costs and a growing backlog.��

• The commission estimates the state may need��roughly��$11 billion��over 20 years��to repair or replace aging school buildings; Maine has��nearly��600��public schools��with an average building age of��54 years.����

• Recommendations include addressing deferred maintenance earlier, using prototype designs, building a statewide facilities master plan and reducing red tape that can extend project timelines.����

• The report also recommends creating a quasi-independent��Intergovernmental Office of School Infrastructure��and calls for a short-term working group to draft legislation and��implementation��details.����

Learn More��

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s Governor’s Commission on School Construction is calling for a broad overhaul of the state’s school construction pipeline, arguing that the current approach cannot keep pace with aging buildings, rising costs and long waitlists for state support.����

The commission’s final report lays out a long-term roadmap for planning,��funding��and delivering capital projects statewide — while local districts such as RSU 23 in Old Orchard Beach point to immediate building-system and accessibility issues as they wait for upgrades.����

According to reporting by WGME/CBS13’s I-Team and a follow-up summary by Construction Owners Club, the commission estimates Maine could need��roughly��$11 billion��over the next 20 years to repair or replace hundreds of aging school buildings. The sources note Maine has��nearly 600��public schools and an average building age of 54 years.����

The impact is visible in districts already queued for state��assistance. RSU 23 is seeking to replace Loranger Memorial School, described as a 90-year-old facility whose infrastructure and learning spaces no longer meet modern expectations. The district is currently at the front of the line for state funding, but Loranger’s placement on the priority list underscores how demand is outpacing available bond capacity.����

Commission Chair Valerie Landry said the scale of need requires a shift in strategy, with the report organizing its recommendations around four goals: reducing construction costs, maximizing existing resources, diversifying and increasing funding, and using data more strategically.����

The commission recommends addressing deferred maintenance earlier to avoid costlier replacements later, encouraging school consolidation where it makes sense, developing prototype or model school designs to reduce upfront design costs, and creating a statewide facilities master plan to guide long-term investment.����

Process reform is also a central theme. The report calls for reducing the layers of requirements districts must navigate after a project is approved—such as permitting, engineering studies, design��requirements��and acquisitions—because those steps can stretch schedules for years and delay when students and staff see a new or renovated building.����

Even if the state streamlines the process, the commission cautions that financing��remains��the key constraint. The report discusses options such as raising the bond cap, capturing unused debt-service capacity for maintenance projects, exploring dedicated revenue��streams��and examining public-private partnership models used in other states.����

One of the commission’s most significant recommendations is creating a small, quasi-independent Intergovernmental Office of School Infrastructure to coordinate planning, data��analysis��and funding strategies across state and local government. The commission notes��establishing��the office would require legislative approval and��urges��state leaders to form a short-term working group to draft legislation and��implementation��details.����

This article is based on reporting originally published by WGME/CBS13 I-Team on Feb. 26, 2026, and a related summary published by Construction Owners Club on March 2, 2026.��

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What You Need to Know��

• Lawmakers reintroduced the Rebuild America’s Schools Act, proposing $130 billion for K-12 facility upgrades.

• $100 billion would flow through state formula grants, with 95% passed through to districts based on need-related criteria.��

• $30 billion would restore qualified school infrastructure bonds and qualified zone academy bonds, with allocations planned from 2027–2029.

• The bill would also require states to build publicly searchable databases tracking school facility conditions.

Learn��More��

A bicameral proposal would send��$130 billion��in federal support to help school districts address long-deferred facility upgrades, combining state formula grants with revived bond authority intended to expand access to capital in lower-income communities.����

The Rebuild America’s Schools Act has been introduced four times since 2019, but has not advanced to final passage, according to��.��

Under the latest version, $100 billion would be distributed through formula grants to states. Of that amount, 95% would be directed to districts using criteria that include local child poverty levels, fiscal limitations on raising funds and the severity of facility needs.����

An��additional��$30 billion��would be provided as bond authority for two programs — qualified school infrastructure bonds and qualified zone academy bonds — which were eliminated under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The bill would spread the bond authority in��$10 billion��increments each year from 2027 through 2029.����

Supporters argue restoring qualified zone academy bonds could be particularly significant for communities with limited tax bases, where bond referenda can be harder to pass. The bill would reduce matching requirements and add flexibility��on��eligible uses, according to the article.����

Facilities funding disparities have also triggered constitutional challenges in multiple states. Facilities Dive noted lawsuits filed last year in California and Arizona alleging that reliance on local district funding for building upkeep and modernization creates inequities; Arizona’s system was ruled unconstitutional, while California’s case��remains��pending.��

To improve visibility into facility conditions, the measure would require each state to develop a database documenting school infrastructure. “An online, publicly searchable database [should provide] an inventory of the infrastructure of all��public school��facilities in the state,” according to an article from��.��

Even with broad coalition support, near-term prospects for the bill appear uncertain. The article said Congress had just passed its FY 2026��consolidated��appropriations package,��leaving��no immediate legislative vehicle, and noted the Trump administration is unlikely to back the proposal.��

Advocates say the investment would address a major backlog. “We are hopeful that the federal government recognizes that this investment would provide a much-needed solution to a glaring problem,” according to an article from��.��

This article is based on reporting originally published by����on Feb. 6, 2026.����

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As students file out of classrooms for summer break, school campuses will become the epicenter for an abundance of seasonal construction projects. This summer the projects are likely to be large. School officials were recently notified that the federal government has now made another $500 million grant program available to school campuses. This most recent funding was allocated to address infrastructure needs, and because it is another addition to the multimillions already allocated for school districts, the results should be rather incredible.

Infrastructure modernization includes all types of projects – energy upgrades, technology implementations, campus security, cybersecurity, and even new facilities. Ultimately, the projects should improve safety, lower operational costs, facilitate additional classrooms, upgrade labs, enhance gymnasiums or sports facilities, and provide the technology required to foster the curiosity and intellectual development of future generations. Some have ventured to say that current funding for school districts, from a multitude of different sources, represents a historic high point and the projects that result will change lives and restructure entire communities throughout the U.S.

In the city of Toledo, Iowa, officials at the state, municipal, and district levels will collaborate on a $26.8 million effort to relocate the South Tama Middle School. The project’s objective is to facilitate adaptive re-use of the state-owned Iowa Juvenile Home facility. It has been vacant since 2014 and its renovation includes an expansion to accommodate the district’s needs. The remediation and subsequent demolition phases will go out to bid later this year.

A multi-phase plan to renew facilities across Michigan’s Holland Public School District is already underway. Voters approved a $74 million bond proposal that includes funding for remodeling both Holland Middle School and Holland High School. Numerous areas that will be upgraded as a part of the renovation include cafeterias, common areas, and outdoor spaces. Another $41.4 million is available for the second planned phase of work, which will include partial reconstruction of two elementary schools in the district.

Officials in the Lincoln County School District of Missouri budgeted $37 million for renovation, expansion, and new construction work across the district’s various school campuses. To address growth, an eighth elementary school will be constructed. The Troy South Middle School campus also will be expanded to accommodate six additional classrooms. Finally, funding is allocated for a remodel of the New Horizons High School facility. That project will not only expand the high school’s programming capacity but will also enhance its security resources.

Ohio’s Manchester School District is coordinating with state planning officials for a $34 million investment in school improvement projects. Additional oversight and funding from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission will support the launch of a district-wide sequence of school improvement projects. A new high school will be constructed, an existing facility will be renovated and restructured as an elementary school, and two other educational facilities will be demolished. Renovation work on the existing high school building will take place at about the same time. All projects are scheduled for completion by the end of summer 2024.

In Fulton County, Georgia, a five-year sales tax will generate an estimated total of $860 million which will be used for upcoming school projects. The funding will be used for projects outlined in the school district’s master plan. A few of the projects include preliminary planning to replace the district’s aging North Spring High School facility, a roof replacement for a middle school, and a major renovation of a charter school in the district.

In Virginia, a massive amount of funding is available for 14 improvement projects in Fairfax County. Over the next five years, a total of $360 million will be available for renovation work. Projects include a $130 million renovation effort at Falls Church High School, a $38 million renovation of Bonnie Brae Elementary School, $31 million to update Crossfield Elementary School and approximately $37 million for improvements at Louise Archer Elementary School.

The Wake County Public School System in North Carolina plans to direct $274.4 million in funding to construction of new school facilities and an additional $92.2 million for major renovations to existing facilities. Over half of the sum designated for renovation work is committed to North Garner Middle School. That project will have a $52.1 million funding allocation to expand the school’s classroom capacity, construct a new running track, and make other improvements. Additionally, $60 million is earmarked for construction of the county’s new Pleasant Plains Elementary School. A similar funding allocation will be used for construction of the county’s new Bowling Road Elementary School. Design work is underway for a longer-term project to build a new $152.3 million Felton Grove High School to open in August 2025 with a capacity of 2,223 students.

The city of Burlington, Vermont, is in the preliminary design stage of a plan to construct a new high school facility. Local school officials are reviewing five different design plans — all of which have estimated costs in the range of $200 million. A $29 million demolition and environmental remediation phase will clear the site of the existing structures before construction of the new facility begins.

School district campuses are highly valued public assets. There is little disagreement about the importance educational resources. Students at every educational level represent the country’s future scientists, engineers, researchers, technology professionals, physicians, and elected officials. The upgrades, modernizations, and enhancements that will be possible because of the funding will result in thousands of collaborative initiatives that will in turn create jobs, stimulate regional economies, and build stronger communities.

Mary Scott Nabers��is president and CEO of��Strategic Partnerships Inc.,��a business development company specializing in government contracting and procurement consulting throughout the U.S. Her recently released book,��Inside the Infrastructure Revolution: A Roadmap for Building America, is a handbook for contractors, investors and the public at large seeking to explore how public-private partnerships or joint ventures can help finance their infrastructure projects.

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BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada—The government of British Columbia recently announced it is putting $217.7 million of annual maintenance funding to school districts across the province to increase energy efficiency in schools.

This year’s funding is more than $32 million higher than four years ago. Also included this year is an additional $12.2 million from CleanBC that will provide school districts with more resources through the province’s Carbon Neutral Capital Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This extra funding will also create operating cost savings from energy efficiencies such as adding solar panels, high efficiency boilers and LED lighting upgrades, a government release stated.

“Tackling climate change is critically important for all of us, and our school system can play a part in helping cut carbon pollution,” said B.C. Minister of Education Rob Fleming in a statement. “That’s why we’ve significantly increased maintenance funding to help districts better maintain schools, improve energy efficiency and work to provide the best possible learning environments for students,”

CleanBC is the government’s plan to reduce carbon pollution through approximately $1.3 billion in provincial funding over four years.

Said B.C. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman in a statement, “We’re working with school districts throughout the province to create healthier learning environments for students and modeling a more secure future through energy efficient buildings and transportation options.”

In addition to new CleanBC funding the Carbon Neutral Capital Program is providing approximately $17 million to nearly 70 different energy efficient projects.

There will also be the option for school districts to purchase electric school buses through the 2020-21 Bus Acquisition Program, which provides $13 million for 31 school districts to buy 101 new buses including up to 15 electric buses. Districts that purchase electric buses will also have access to provincial funding for charging station infrastructure.

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