The Jefferson Union High School District, once plagued by high staff turnover, saw a dramatic turnaround in 2022 after developing affordable housing for its employees. Located in Daly City, the district built 122 units on school-owned land, now housing 25% of its staff. Board member Andy Lie highlighted this achievement as “remarkable” and “unheard of in public education,” noting that the district starts the new school year with no vacancies.

A new law that took effect in January 2023 eased zoning requirements for school districts aiming to build affordable housing. Jefferson Union High and a few other districts are leading the way in addressing the housing crisis for educators.

At an August 14 housing summit organized by the California Department of Education (CDE), local and state leaders will discuss successful district housing initiatives. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond emphasized that schools control 75,000 acres of undeveloped land, potentially yielding 2.3 million housing units. He envisions these units as a solution to California’s teacher shortage over the next eight years.

The California School Boards Association (CSBA) reported strong interest from districts in providing affordable housing, with 158 out of approximately 1,000 districts expressing interest. Eight districts are already constructing or have completed housing, while many others are still exploring options. The CSBA has developed a map tracking the status of these projects.

Building staff housing can help solve several problems. With school staff salaries often falling short of local rents, affordable housing can improve recruitment and retention, while providing schools with an additional revenue stream. According to Andrew Keller of CSBA, housing development can help alleviate California’s affordability crisis and support long-term financial stability for schools.

Jefferson Union High School District's new housing has created a waitlist of 30 staff members. Thurmond is advocating for legislation that would allow districts to extend housing to the wider community, addressing affordability issues for students and their families as well.

In Los Angeles, LAUSD has three projects providing 185 units for its employees and is exploring more sites. The district is also partnering with local nonprofits to provide supportive housing for homeless families with children enrolled in LAUSD schools.

Despite the benefits, some communities have been skeptical about school districts entering the housing market. Richard Barrera of San Diego Unified School District noted that community members were initially confused about the need for districts to build housing. San Diego Unified aims to develop 1,500 affordable units for 10% of its staff, funded by a 2022 bond measure.

Thurmond is also pushing for legislation to create additional financial incentives for districts and highlighted that educator housing qualifies for $500 million in annual state housing tax credits.

Convincing voters has been a challenge; several school bond measures for staff housing have failed, including those in Patterson Joint Unified, Soledad Unified, and East Side Union High School District. Even Jefferson Union High School District barely passed its bond measure with just over 55% support.

Despite initial resistance, Lie reports improved staff morale and retention, underscoring the importance of affordable housing for educators and its impact on student success.

To support districts, CSBA is collaborating with researchers to create resources for navigating the housing development process. UCLA’s cityLAB and UC Berkeley’s Center for Cities + Schools are developing guides and maps to streamline efforts and identify the most beneficial communities.

Thurmond emphasized that while increasing teacher salaries remains a priority, building affordable housing is a crucial tool for recruitment and retention.