Schools
Cover Your Schoolyard
Cooler kids, safer campuses
Schoolyards should help kids thrive—not overheat. Shade keeps students safe, supports learning, and creates cooler play spaces. Whether you’re in LAUSD or a private school, tools and partners are available to help you take action.
Download our resource guide to get started.
Start Here
Programs, plans, and partners to help cool your school
-
01
Fund your project
Apply to LAUSD’s K-12 SEEDS (Sustainable Environment Enhancement Developments for Schools) program to support implementation of shade trees, outdoor learning spaces, and campus greening. For LAUSD schools only.
-
02
Make room for trees
Get up to $3 – 5 per sq. ft. in rebates when you replace your lawn with native plants and even more when you plant trees!
-
03
Tap into county public works support
If your school is in a district served by the LA County Department of Public Works—like Pasadena, Compton, or Santa Monica-Malibu—the Environmental Programs Division offers a School Garden Program to help schools build no-cost, mini gardens.
Questions? Email Edna Gandarilla at EGANDA@dpw.lacounty.gov
-
04
Partner with a local nonprofit
Work with groups like TreePeople, the Trust for Public Land, or others to help design and maintain shade and green space on your campus. Our ShadeLA partners can assist with planting days, design support, and long-term care.
-
05
Start a watershed project
Use LA County’s Safe Clean Water Program to support schoolyard shade projects that also reduce runoff, improve water quality, and support habitat. Available to both public and private schools.
-
06
Champion cooler campuses
Join the Los Angeles Living Schoolyards Coalition (LSYC)—a growing network of advocates transforming pavement into soil. Learn about planning tools, funding, and policy action.
-
07
Explore state-level support
Apply for CalFire Urban & Community Forestry Grants or get recognized through the California Green Ribbon Schools program. ShadeLA can connect your school to the right nonprofit or agency partner.