Public schools across the nation have suffered from decades of disinvestment, redlining and cycles of poverty and trauma. The Green New Deal for Public Schools Act is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to meet the moment and prioritize our students. Every student, regardless of background, should be able to enjoy clean air and learn in a safe school environment, free from mold or broken windows. The Democratic Socialists of America launched our Green New Deal for Public Schools (GND4PS) campaign to support this act nationally, with DSA San Diego supporting the effort locally.
The ambitious new legislation — which aims to invest $1.43 trillion over 10 years in public schools and infrastructure to combat climate change — would make a transformative and unprecedented investment in public school infrastructure by upgrading every public school building in the country, addressing historical harms and inequities by focusing support on high-need schools, and hiring and training hundreds of thousands of additional educators and support staff. If enacted, the legislation would fund 1.3 million jobs per year and eliminate 78 million metric tons of CO2 annually, the equivalent of taking 17 million cars off the road.
The climate crisis continues to worsen as the government fails to reel in corporate greed. We need to put our children and their futures at the forefront of our decision-making. The Green New Deal for Public Schools Act represents the level of school infrastructure investment that is urgent and necessary. What this comes down to is whether we’re willing to provide our kids with the resources they need to realize their brilliance and have a livable planet. To win it, we need to organize communities, educators, parents, and students. Join us!