As school districts nationwide grapple with aging infrastructure, evolving educational models and heightened community expectations, K-12 bond measures have become a critical mechanism for funding transformation. Beyond simple capital campaigns, these referendums reflect shifting priorities around safety,��flexibility��and long-term facility performance.����

Recognizing the critical value of connecting readers with bond- and referendum-related insights, 91��Ƶ is proud to announce a new partnership with����that will bring��SchoolBondFinder’s��expertise��and capital project bond insights to 91��Ƶ readers.��SchoolBondFinder��provides a data-driven lens into how districts are planning,��proposing��and delivering projects—offering��stakeholders��a clearer view of where investment is occurring and how those decisions are shaping the future of learning environments.��

The School Bond Finder K-12 Bond Platform����

SchoolBondFinder��specializes in tracking K-12 capital project bonds across the nation. Our platform monitors school district bond initiatives across key stages, providing stakeholders with crucial data on project scope, financing, and voter outcomes.��

• Watch List:��Districts may be added to this list following initial activities such as a facilities study, demographic study, capital improvement plans review, or a feasibility survey.��
• Proposed List: A bond is moved to this list once a school board officially approves a referendum for a vote.��At this point, the vote date, official ballot language, use, and amount are��finalized.��
• Passed/Failed List:��Updates on school bond referendum votes—both��passed��and��failed—are typically available on our platform within 24 to��72 hours��of the official results being released.��

A Recap of 2025 Bonds��

As the first quarter of 2026 wraps��up��it is important to look back at 2025 for reference. In 2025��SchoolBondFinder��tracked��$91��Billion worth of bonds. Approximately��$69.2��billion��passed,��whereas��$22.7��billion��failed. The overall passage rate for 2025 was��75%, which aligns with the trend��observed��over the last few years. Our research team tracks school bond activity nationwide, with the highest total bond amounts recorded in Texas ($18.4 billion), California ($6.1 billion), Ohio ($3.5 billion), Washington ($3.4 billion), and Pennsylvania ($3.0 billion) in 2025.��

Historic Trends��

The chart below illustrates spending amounts for both passed and failed referendums over the past eight years. Election years typically show an increase in both the number and total value of bonds proposed, a��trend often attributed to higher voter turnout during presidential elections, which can improve referendum passage rates.��

An eight-year longitudinal analysis (2018–2025) highlights consistent trends in K-12 bond funding, offering insight into evolving educational priorities. During this period, bond measures most��frequently��supported the following project areas:��

• Speciality��Areas����
• Instructional Areas��
• Athletic Facilities��
• HVAC��SystemsElectrical��and Lighting Upgrades��
• Electrical / Lighting Upgrades��

Given that most instructional buildings were built before the 1970s, it is no surprise that infrastructure upgrades are a top priority for school districts. Capital improvements continue to be focused on modernizing student learning environments. These spaces include classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and specialized facilities. The goal is student-centered learning, achieved through flexible environments that incorporate mobile furniture, integrated technology, and versatile layouts.��

2026 Year to Date – First Quarter��

As of March 2026, approximately��$6��billion��in K–12 bonds have been approved.��Roughly��267��bond measures were tracked in the first quarter, resulting in a��70%��passage rate. Approved bonds were concentrated primarily in specialty areas (ie��cafeterias, sensory rooms, admin spaces), HVAC systems, and instructional spaces. The top three states (WA, KS, and IL) account for about��66%��of the total bond amount passed in Q1.����

2026 Bond Priorities��

The��SchoolBondFinder��database is currently tracking a total of��1,478��bonds scheduled for 2026 and beyond, as of March. Approximately��117��bonds are scheduled to go to vote throughout��the month of April, with more elections scheduled in May and June. The combined Proposed and Watch List bonds��represent��approximately��$56 billion��in potential opportunity.����

K-12 School bonds are currently prioritizing construction, capital improvements, technology upgrades, and security enhancements. Many districts are��seeking��smaller, more targeted amounts for referendums, which may be more appealing to taxpayers and could be a more achievable strategy compared to large, multimillion-dollar bonds.��

• Facility Longevity and Maintenance: There is a growing focus on facility longevity and maintenance over expansion. Renovation and repair projects are the most frequent, while new construction and major system/envelope upgrades��represent��higher-value contracts.��
• Student-Centric Modernization:��A significant portion��of bond funding targets modernization and expansion of areas directly��impacting��student learning and extracurricular activities. This includes projects focused on flexible learning spaces, modern classrooms, and auditorium renovations, showing a high demand for multi-purpose furniture solutions.��
• Infrastructure and Safety: Basic infrastructure��remains��a consistent priority. Projects related to safety/security and system/building envelope upgrades, such as HVAC replacement, roof repairs, and��security��show a commitment to the health, safety, and long-term goals of school facilities.��

More Info and Insights to Come��

Looking ahead, the trajectory of K-12 bond funding��suggests a more strategic, targeted approach to capital investment—one that balances fiscal realities with the urgent need to modernize facilities. As districts continue to prioritize infrastructure resilience, student-centered design and operational efficiency, access to��timely, reliable data will remain essential. Platforms like��SchoolBondFinder��are critical resources for A/E/C stakeholders,��providing��the in-depth insights necessary for better decision-making and efficient��utilization��of K-12 funding opportunities.��

Watch for quarterly insights from��SchoolBondFinder��to learn more about upcoming opportunities.��

Petra Sucher is the Marketing Engagement & Analytics Manager with��.��

The post New Partnership with SchoolBondFinder Brings Bond, Referendum Insights to 91��Ƶ appeared first on 91��Ƶ.

The post New Partnership with SchoolBondFinder Brings Bond, Referendum Insights to 91��Ƶ appeared first on 91��Ƶ.

SACRAMENTO—Following a statewide measure on March’s primary ballot, California voters have rejected a $15 billion bond to renovate the state’s aging schools.

According to a report by , Prop 13 promised to provide funds for new construction and repairs at campuses dealing with problems like leaky roofs, old wiring and toxic mold. It needed a simple majority to pass. But the “no” votes had a comfortable lead immediately after the March 3 election and only tightened slightly as several million additional ballots were counted.

According a statement from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, “Opponents said California has a large budget surplus and shouldn’t borrow more money. Taxpayers would have owed an estimated $11 billion in interest over the next 35 years as a result of Prop. 13.”

Republican state Sen. Brian Jones said voters “rightly wondered why the state was trying to pass more bonds and hike taxes rather than using those budget surpluses to help schools?”

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association led the opposition, which took particular issue with a provision that would have increased the limit on what a local school district could borrow, from 1.25% to 2% of assessed property value. The group feared that could have led to future tax increases to pay back the debt and said that the state should fund school facilities itself rather than adding to school districts’ debt.

California Governor Gavin Newsom—a supporter of this proposition— argued that the need for school repairs was crucial. The proposal was backed by teachers and firefighter unions, school boards and Democratic state lawmakers.

According to a report by the Public Policy Institute of California, 70% of California’s 10,000 public schools are 25 years or older, with 10% of them at least 70 years old.

Approximately $9 billion from the measure would have gone to K-12 schools, with priority given to addressing health and safety concerns such as removing asbestos and eliminating lead from drinking water.

Of that, $5.8 billion would have went toward improving school facilities; $2.8 billion for new construction; and $500 million each for charter schools and facilities for technical education.

According to local media, this proposition also would have allocated $6 billion for higher education, which last benefited from a statewide bond measure in 2006. The funding would have been split evenly, with $2 billion each for community colleges, the California State University system and the University of California system.

The post $15 Billion California School Upgrade Bond Rejected appeared first on 91��Ƶ.

The post $15 Billion California School Upgrade Bond Rejected appeared first on 91��Ƶ.

“Rhode Island College is proud to be part of this historic collaboration between the public and private sectors,” Rhode Island College President Dr. Nancy Carriuolo said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “…The Rhode Island Nursing Education Center, will help our state grow the educated workforce it needs to meet the changing needs of its number-one industry sector: health care."

The project will renovate and repurpose the vacant and abandoned South Street Power Station on Providence’s Eddy Street. This point in particular inspired Mayor Angel Taveras to refer to the project as a “transformational moment” for the state’s economy, according to the . The project is also expected to create up to 500 new construction jobs, as well nearly 400 indirect jobs, generating a potential $5 million in new tax revenue.

The Nursing Education Center is also expected to advance Rhode Island’s role as a regional leader in health care and nursing education. In addition to establishing new classrooms and related office space, the project will include extensive improvements to the site’s existing power plant as well as the construction of a new six-story graduate student housing facility, a new 650-space parking structure and various landscaping and site improvements.

An agreement reached by the three institutions in early 2014 will divide the roughly 265,000-square-foot complex in half, with one portion reserved for Brown University offices and the other dedicated to learning and teaching spaces for the other two institutions. The project currently aims for a mid 2016 completion.

“Reaching this important milestone in this highly complex project has required the commitment and tenacity of our private and public sector partners,” said Brown President Christina Paxson, in a statement. “Today, we set the stage to transform a staggering liability into a gleaming asset, providing opportunities for meaningful academic connections that will have lasting benefits for our institutions, our city, and our state.”

“The Nursing Education Center will certainly play a role in the economic recovery of our state,” added Rhode Island House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello. “The training that our future nurses and health care professionals will receive at this first-class facility will open the door for good-paying job opportunities. I am so pleased that the state has made this investment in support of three great institutions of Brown, URI and RIC to make this groundbreaking possible.”

The post Rhode Island Universities Break Ground on Nursing School appeared first on 91��Ƶ.

The post Rhode Island Universities Break Ground on Nursing School appeared first on 91��Ƶ.