Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play a prominent role in the nation's higher education system. For example, about one-third of African Americans receiving a doctorate in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics received undergraduate degrees from HBCUs. To help HBCUs facing challenges accessing funding for capital…

Public school facilities primarily serve an educational role, and they also serve a civic role as voting places and emergency shelters. School districts collectively spend tens of billions of dollars each year on facilities construction needs at the nearly 100,000 K-12 public schools nationwide. About half (an estimated 54 percent) of public…

This report assesses the pace and quality of the District of Columbia's $1.3 billion multiyear effort to renovate and modernize its public schools. Findings reveal that the District of Columbia school system had mismanaged an area-wide utility contract for gas and energy management services between the General Services Administration and the…

New York State Regents directed that new guidelines and "standards" be developed for technology infrastructures in educational facilities in order to assist administrators and educators in planning technology integration during retrofits, renovations, or new construction of educational facilities. This document provides the first draft…

This Congressional testimony focuses on the challenges faced by the District of Columbia in modernizing its public schools. Specifically, it addresses: (1) increases in the cost of modernizing the schools; (2) delays in completing the schools; (3) quality inspection problems; and (4) concerns about managing asbestos hazards. The testimony…

The Tax Reform Act of 1984 has sharply limited the tax advantages for private investors to enter into real estate sales/leaseback agreements with exempt organizations. The impact the Tax Reform Act of 1984 has on sales/leaseback agreements involving tax-exempt organizations is examined. (Author/MLW)

An analysis is presented of the environmental impacts of replacing the Winnett School District's existing oil-fired heating system with a new coal-fired heating system with funds provided from a grant under the Institutional Conservation Program. The report first covers the background and need for action, along with the alternative actions…

This report presents evaluations of proposed federal legislation to provide financial support for the restoration and preservation of historic buildings on the campuses of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The legislation enables money already appropriated to be spent on projects at HCBUs. First, the text of modifications to…

The author notes that controversies over construction bids and contracts continue to represent the largest number of property cases reported in this year's chapter. Most of these cases are routine disputes between colleges or universities and contractors over such issues as the return of bid bonds, recovery of additional costs for construction…

The New York State Department of Education provides the amendments to regulations of the Commissioner of Education concerning the Comprehensive Public School Building Safety Program effective May 7, 1999. Amended items include those involving the school district 5-year capital assets preservation facilities plan, building inspections, construction…

In an address to the House Ways and Means Committee on the Revenue Provision in the Year 2000 Budget, Rene Bouchard, CEO of Steuben-Allegany Board of Cooperative Educational Services, discusses the needs of rural schools and how the President's school modernization proposal would help them. Bouchard argues the need for federal assistance to school…

Changes in federal policy affecting rural development in economically distressed areas in 2001 include new markets initiatives, establishment of the (Mississippi River) Delta Regional Authority, and increased infrastructure funding. Infrastructure priorities include highway construction, airport improvements, public works grants, rural…

In an address to the House Ways and Means Committee on the Revenue Provision in the Year 2000 Budget, Gery Chico, President of the Chicago School Reform Board of Trustees, discusses four basic characteristics of a good school modernization funding plan and offers observations and recommendations on the two funding proposals currently before the…

A conference report of the House of Representatives to accompany H.R. 5192, which would amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes, is presented. It is recommended that the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: that this Act may be cited…

This report of the Committee on Resources recommends House of Representatives approval of (H.R. 1179), the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Building Restoration and Preservation Act, as amended, to ensure the preservation of buildings eligible for funding under the Historic Preservation Act on the campuses of historically…