CTV News interviewed Dr. R. Jisung Park, assistant professor in FSPH's Department of Environmental Health Sciences, about a new study he co-authored which found that high school students' PSAT scores worsened when they had been exposed to high temperature school days (90◦F and above) during the 365 days prior to the test.
The study Heat and Learning, co-authored by Dr. R. Jisung Park and co-authors, provides evidence showing that an increase in temperature can negatively affect school performance. Using data from 10 million PSAT-takers, the authors show that hotter school days in the 365 days prior to the test reduce learning, with extreme heat being particularly damaging and larger effects for low income and minority students.
