How we got here

Students can't learn when it's too hot

Being inside a hot classroom isn't just uncomfortable, it's unsafe. Students and teachers report adverse health effects from heat and report an increase in aggression or behavioral issues on hot days. In the week of March 16, 2026 alone, multiple OUSD students visited the hospital with heat-induced health emergencies.

Hot temperatures during the school year is also proven to negatively impact learning and achievement.

💡Student cognitive performance can be expected to increase on average by 20% if classroom temperatures are lowered from 86°F to 68°F (source).
😓 Studies of students retaking the PSATs show that without air conditioning, a 1°F hotter school year reduces that year's learning by 1 percent (source).
🤯 Hotter school days two, three, and even four years prior to a test correlate to lower scores (source).
💜 Hot school days disproportionately impact minority students, accounting for roughly 5 percent of the racial achievement gap (source).
🤩 Sequoia's parent-led pilot shows that quick fixes like UV window films and curtains can cool classrooms by up to 8 degrees without electrical upgrades.

Learn more in the presentation below:

Cool the School background for website.pdf

This information isn't news to OUSD.

Parents, teachers, and students have reported their experience for many years, through public comment, petitions with hundreds of signatures, and legally filed complaints.

In 2023, a Williams Uniform Complaint was filed at Laurel Elementary, alleging unsafe conditions due to excessive heat.
The district responded a year and a half later, even though the legally required response time is 45 days.
The district concluded "your allegations of excessive heat are valid," and took no corrective action, saying they are not legally required to provide air conditioning.

Read the Williams Complaint response

Also in 2023, OUSD paid over $1Million for a study

Read the Study

The study concluded that:

🧊 Air Conditioning is not the only solution -- "off-the-grid measures" (like window replacements, opening windows at night, and roof insulation improvements) can provide significant relief.
These measures are "affordable and achievable for the vast majority of the school year."
90% of the uncomfortably hot school hours could eliminated without A/C!

It also documented what community members have been telling OUSD for years:

It's dangerously hot: Overheating is most severe in August, September, October, and May.
It makes learning too hard: During these peak months, nearly 100% of school days experience indoor conditions deemed scientifically "too hot" during the mid-day peak (12 pm – 4 pm). We're losing more than 40% of the school days to heat!
Some rooms get no relief: Even in "cooler" months like November or March, certain south-facing classrooms still experience hours that feel "too hot" due to solar heat gain through windows.

What did the district do with this information? We have asked! So far, all we can find is:

They are adding thermometers into every classroom at some time in the future (unstated deadline)
They upgraded windows at West Oakland Middle School.

Sequoia Elementary decided to act.

September Graphs.pdf

They proved DIY efforts work.

On average, Sequoia cooled classrooms by 2.5 degrees (August vs. September heat waves). Many classrooms saw a 6-8 degree temperature reduction.

In the August heat wave, 7 classrooms were above the OSHA threshold (82 degrees) at 2PM, including every Kindergarten classroom & 1st grade classroom. On September 23, only 1 classroom was above this threshold.
They got 3 classrooms to remain at 75 degrees or cooler during heat waves. Last year, 0 classrooms could.

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