It's Getting Hot in Here!
Hottest Summer on Record, AC, Performance, and CTE
8/23/2024
By Connor Oswald, JPEF Data and Research Manager
Our Greatest Invention
As July drew to a close, meteorologists reported that this summer was poised to be the hottest on record for Duval County. This heatwave has implications that extend far beyond discomfort; it highlights discussions about how temperature affects daily life and education. Reflecting on the significance of air conditioning in tropical climates, I was reminded of an insightful response by Singapore's Founding Father, Lee Kuan Yew, when asked about the key factors behind Singapore’s success. The answer: air conditioning.
Lee Kuan Yew called air conditioning one of the most crucial inventions of modern civilization, especially for muggy places like Singapore. He asserted that without AC, productivity would be confined to the early morning or dusk, severely limiting development. His first action as Prime Minister was to install air conditioners in government buildings to enhance public efficiency. One look at modern Singapore and one realizes the truth in this action. Yew’s perspective aligns with findings in educational research, where student performance is shown to be significantly impacted by temperature.
Temperature and Student Performance
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has explored the correlation between classroom temperature and student performance, revealing that without air conditioning, each additional school day with temperatures over 90°F decreases student learning. The study concludes that the negative effects of high temperatures on learning are nearly eliminated with the presence of air conditioning. This highlights the critical role that a controlled, comfortable learning environment plays in educational outcomes. Any teacher, myself included, can vouch for the near impossibility of teaching a classroom as temperatures creep up from a broken HVAC system.
However, access to air conditioning is not uniform across all communities, and this disparity is particularly pronounced in Florida. A study on spatial disparities in air conditioning ownership in Florida reveals that historically Black or African American neighborhoods with lower housing quality are less likely to have any type of AC. This lack of air conditioning is further compounded by economic factors; households with lower median incomes are significantly less likely to have AC, and renters are also at a disadvantage. These findings indicate that the benefits of air conditioning, and consequently the ability to perform well in school, are not evenly distributed.
As the new school year has started on August 12th, the importance of fully operational AC systems in schools cannot be overstated. The facilities and maintenance teams are undoubtedly working tirelessly to ensure that the cooling systems are ready to combat the oppressive summer heat. The potential for students to suffer academically due to inadequate air conditioning is a pressing concern, particularly as the region experiences record-breaking temperatures.
Ongoing Efforts
This issue is closely tied to ongoing efforts by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF) to improve the built environment of schools. Two significant initiatives in this regard are the school renaming fund and the ½ penny sales tax for school infrastructure. The latter is particularly relevant, as it was intended to fund essential upgrades, including the installation and maintenance of air conditioning systems in schools. You can see the progress these initiatives have made here.
The hottest summer on record serves as a stark reminder of the critical role that air conditioning plays in both productivity, equity, and education. As we continue to grapple with the challenges posed by extreme heat, it is imperative that we address the disparities in access to air conditioning, particularly in schools. Ensuring that all students have a comfortable environment in which to learn is not just a matter of public health, but a matter of educational equity and social justice.