Colleges and universities across the country are burdened with inefficiently utilized facilities, leading to unnecessary costs, wasted space, and misplaced financial priorities. This policy brief examines the systemic mismanagement of campus facilities and proposes market-based reforms to legislatures and trustees in order to optimize space usage,…

Charter schools have become an important part of the public education landscape in New York City. In the 2017-18 school year, there were 227 charters educating 114,000 students, about 10% of the city's schoolchildren. The strong academic achievement of students in these schools, as well as parental demand, points to the need for more charter…

The present paper deals with a wide range of issues related to the environmental quality in learning spaces, such as thermal and visual comfort, as well as energy efficiency. All of these issues fall under the umbrella of the UN Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Upon reviewing publications of past studies, interviews were…

In this environment of economic uncertainty, school districts can be faced with tough decisions in their attempts to provide students and teachers with safe and functional facilities for teaching and learning. To accommodate program changes and enrollment fluctuations as well as aging facilities and limited capital budgets, it is increasingly…

Classroom density may be a more important planning consideration than size. The lower middle range for human social distance is 7 feet--not met in most classrooms containing 20 to 25 students. Students need ample space, since crowding causes behavior problems and increased maintenance costs. (Contains 10 references.) (MLH)

This task force report examines enrollment trends, school building utilization, school size, and school cost savings in the Madison, Wisconsin, elementary schools. Although the task force's study was confined to elementary schools, many of its findings and recommendations are applicable to middle and high schools as well. Enrollments in many…

This task force in Hamden, Connecticut, discovered an intricate relationship among declining enrollment and finances, buildings, community impact, and educational impact. Their study resulted in nine conclusions and recommendations. (1) We will recommend to the board of education criteria, procedures, and timetables for closing a school. (2)…