National reports have raised concerns about the physical accessibility of public school facilities for people with disabilities. These facilities serve important roles as schools, voting locations, and emergency shelters, among other things. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to examine the physical accessibility of public school…

This document presents background information and testimony concerning the cleanup of potentially contaminated vacant or underutilized property for use as future school sites in low-income and minority communities. Various proposals are offered that would allow the state, where necessary, to facilitate the cleanup of these "brownfields"…

The eighth installment of a report that addresses the complex issues and questions related to implementation of the requirement that persons should have equal educational opportunities regardless of handicap. (Author/MLF)

In 1983 the Oklahoma Legislature adopted facility guidelines for the purpose of defining, organizing, and encouraging the planning of adequate environments for education. The guidelines contained in this booklet have been designed to allow for the requirements of all Oklahoma school districts regardless of size or educational program. The…

In New York State, all plans and specifications for the erection, repair, enlargement, or remodeling of school buildings in any public school district must be reviewed and approved by the Division of Educational Facilities Planning. The Division also strives to offer advice and counsel to school districts and architects to help them resolve their…

This document presents rules and policies governing and detailing facility design, construction, and funding for Arizona public schools. The document's six articles cover definitions, regulations on minimum school facility guidelines, square footage calculations, the process for deficiency corrections, new school and land funding, and allocation…

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…

The Jefferson County School District (Colorado) has developed a manual of high school specifications for Design Advisory Groups and consultants to use for planning and designing the district's high school facilities. The specifications are provided to help build facilities that best meet the educational needs of the students to be served.…

The Kentucky State Board for Elementary and Secondary Education has published this manual containing criteria school districts should use for planning new school construction and renovation projects. The criteria is used for determining the following activities: (1) the selection of the Local Planning Committee (LPC) responsible for the…

The Jefferson County School District (Denver, Colorado) has published this document as a model standard for the planning and designing of new middle schools and remodeling and modernizing existing schools. It describes the facility requirements to accommodate the instructional program, activities, and support functions to assist architects, school…

A screening and ranking procedure for selecting school sites in California is based on the criteria of safety, environment, size and shape, location, soils, topography, accessibility, utilities, political implications, public services, cost, and availability. An explanation of these criteria is included along with a list of secondary criteria.…

This book presents New York State planning standards for school buildings. The standards offer advice and counsel to school districts, architects, and engineers to help them resolve their school building problems while considering educational and planning efficiency, conservation of natural resources, and initial and long-range economy within the…

This manual outlines the policies and procedures related to the submission and review of facilities projects at South Carolina's public colleges and universities. It provides an overview of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education's role and responsibilities and its general policy regarding permanent improvements to facilities. The report…

The Wake County Public School System has published its guidelines for planning and design of functional, cost effective, and durable educational facilities that are attractive and enhance the students' educational experience. The guidelines present basic planning requirement and design criteria for the entire construction process, including: codes…

The Jefferson County School District (Denver, Colorado) has published this model standard for the planning and designing of new elementary schools, and the remodeling and modernizing existing schools. It describes the facility requirements to accommodate the instructional program, activities, and support functions to assist architects, school…