It’s that time of year again. Parents are getting the school supplies ready and arranging schedules so that their kids can start of the academic year off right. It’s also that time of year when school districts are planning for the funding and construction of new schools and other education facilities as they get a full count of the new and returning students.

With this in mind, a colleague of mine, NCPA E-Team adjunct scholar Todd Myers recently asked the question — should parents, school districts, and the Congress be demanding that new schools be built with green goals in mind? In a recent paper, Todd examined a variety of claims made by advocates for green schools — ranging from energy savings that would leave more money for classroom instruction, to improved attendance and student performance.

His findings: Based on the limited evidence available so far, Green Schools get a failing grade.