Date/Time: November 7, 2026 | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Room: YAKIMA 1

Abstract:  School facilities shape how students learn, collaborate, and engage with the world around them. As educators and designers continue to rethink learning environments to support creativity, exploration, hands-on learning, and moments for focus and reflection, an important question emerges. How much does the physical environment influence student outcomes?

Recent research examining school bond investments across California found strong evidence that strategic investments in school facilities can lead to measurable academic gains. Districts that increased capital spending following local bond approvals experienced improvements in student achievement within four to six years. The gains were equivalent to roughly three to four additional months of learning, or about 60–70 instructional days.

This session shares what these findings mean for the planning and design of future learning environments. Participants will examine emerging research connecting facility investment and learning outcomes, consider how spatial conditions influence student experience and engagement, and discuss how districts can prioritize environments that support curiosity, creativity, and meaningful learning.

Through research insights and case studies, attendees will gain practical tools to better align educational goals, facility investments, and community priorities to create learning environments that support student success.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand current research connecting school facility investments to student learning outcomes.
2. Identify environmental and spatial factors that influence student engagement and learning experiences.
3. Explore strategies for aligning facility planning and capital investments with evolving models of teaching and learning.
4. Develop approaches for communicating the educational value and return on investment of school facilities to communities and decision-makers.