When the U.S. House passed legislation allowing federal funding to be used for acoustic improvements in schools, it brought us one step closer to quieting noisy classrooms. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) hosted a Capitol Hill briefing on “Classroom Noise and Acoustics: The Unseen Barriers to Learning” and invited architect Marcus Adrian to address the importance of noise reduction and how good acoustics can benefit academic performance. The program underscored the cost-effectiveness of improvements, and showcased quiet classrooms around the nation. For more information on design strategies for quiet classrooms that were presented at the Capitol Hill briefing as well as practical ideas for improving speech intelligibility in any new or existing building, contact marcus_a@mackeymitchell.com