School choice is expanding, providing both opportunities and challenges for parents seeking information about schools that best fit their children's needs. Federal law now calls for every school to have "understandable" and "user-friendly" report cards. However, there is little evidence-based guidance to help design effective…

This handbook outlines procedures for sharing student data between schools and the Ministry of Education, and answers questions pertaining to provincial examinations. It supports the work of both educators and the Ministry, which works with schools to produce transcripts and administer provincial exams. The following are appended: (1) Forms; and…

This manual provides guidance and documentation for users of the longitudinal kindergarten-fourth grade (K-4) public-use data file of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011), which includes the first release of the public version of the third-grade data. This manual mainly provides information specific…

Explains how the University of Connecticut (Stamford) moved its suburban campus to the city center where it would be closer to the students. Discusses the master planning that assessed the move's impact on the business district, what the benefits would be for the students and the community, and the architectural design concepts used. (GR)

This document seeks to synthesize, integrate, and make available to school personnel solid information regarding Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). Chapter 1, "The Changed Landscape of School Safety and Security," examines characteristics of safe and unsafe schools, causes of vulnerability, and the role of design and technology…

Describes how one district redrew attendance boundaries after a new elementary school was added, and provides six rules to follow in realigning attendance boundaries. (IRT)

Presents an approach for estimating school site space needs that (1) identifies the various functions to be accommodated and the space needed for each and (2) determines the total amount of site space required. Provides some useful estimates of the amounts of space required for a number of common functions. (MLF)

This publication discusses those factors that must be recognized during the process of school site selection, planning, development, and use within North Carolina. Issues discussed in the site selection process include the technical requirements when selecting a school site, such as topography and drainage, access and traffic, security and safety,…

The selection and planning of sites for school facilities can be critical and difficult due to the varied and complex demands schools must satisfy. This publication addresses the many factors that need consideration during the process of site selection, planning, development, and use. The report examines not only the site selection and planning…

Examines the award-winning Commonwealth Hall, a new education and development center at the University of Virginia's College at Wise, that helped the campus acknowledge the beauty of its rural location and the region's industrial history. Discusses the building design's connectivity with other facilities, its blending in with the surrounding…

Natural environments on school sites provide considerable multi-disciplinary educational opportunities, many of which are "hands-on" experiences that stimulate learning. This document presents guidelines on conserving and enhancing the natural environment on school sites. It provides guidance for developing the site requirements in…

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.…

These guidelines for school location planning (SLP) provide a methodology for countries borrowing from the World Bank for the purpose of expanding and improving their education systems. The discussion is presented in four major sections. In Section A SLP is defined more exactly, and examples are given to illustrate the range of situations in which…

Many districts are holding property that could be put to better use. With a creative strategy for planning, analyzing, and implementing a plan for these public properties, local boards and administrators can uncover hidden value in their real estate assets. California's Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District now receives $500,000 a year in…

Both the design and image have an effect upon the success of an educational facility in that they affect motivation for both teaching and learning. The components of image include nondeceptive appearance, information availibility, logical location, attractiveness, personality, and human needs. Seven references are provided. (DCS)