A new law aims to protect NY student from extreme heat in the classrooms. It requires school districts to take action to relieve "heat discomfort" when a classroom reaches 82 degrees. December 17, 2024.
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(Albany, NY) – Here in mid-December, students are not worried about the summer heat — but before long, classrooms will be stifling yet again, when the spring months arrive. And so a new law has been put into effect. Governor Kathy Hochul signed it into effect this week, in a bid to protect students from extreme heat in classrooms.
Now, school districts will have to take action once a classroom temperature reaches 82 degrees or higher. Steps must be taken to “relieve heat discomfort,” such as opening windows and turning on fans. School officials are also requires to give students regular water breaks. And if the classroom temperature reaches 88 degrees, students must be sent home for the day.
It’s a far cry from the days of students asking teachers to turn the (often fluorescent) classroom lights off in a bid to “feel” cooler. Of course, an increasing number of schools have air conditioned classrooms as well.
