The Montgomery County Public Schools (Maryland) system has assembled in this document its policies, procedures, criteria, and standards that apply to educational facilities development. The policies it contains are part of a planning process that recognizes the interrelationship of its facilities planning policy with other policies such as those…

An interview with Steven Bingler, President of Concordia, Inc., a research and planning firm, and Concordia Architects, an architectural design firm, reveals his views on planning a learning community in educational facilities. He addresses what tools to use to facilitate the group process for planning, discusses how school districts save money…

A programing model for allocating labor resources is presented in relation to the annual planning, budgeting, and manpower staffing of a park maintenance program. The advantages resulting from the use of this model are: (1) optimum allocation of resources; (2) resolution between conflicting goals; and (3) reevaluation of goal priorities. (JN)

Algeria's space use model for the Institut National d'Electricite et d'Electronique is discussed. By concentrating all of its training capability in electricity and electronics in a single institution, Algeria has realized dramatic savings in the educational process and in the cost of physical plant and equipment. (MLW)

Some advice to administrators involved in building or renovating school buildings. (Author/MLF)

Personalized education is particularly suited to adult education. Teaching practices and features of space and equipment that promote personalized instruction are listed. (Author/MLF)

Four people who were extremely active in shaping the schools of the sixties and who remain active today offer their opinions on what should be applied to the new schools of the next decade. (Author/MLF)

Workshop articles address the importance of room arrangement in early childhood settings: "Creating Environments that Intrigue and Delight Children and Adults" (Wendy Shepherd and Jennifer Eaton); "3 Keys to Flexible Room Arrangement" (Elizabeth Prescott); "Mood: The Spirit of Place" (Anita Rui Olds); and…

Examines five issues related to child care facility design: (1) siting the building, outdoor play, and service areas; (2) creating favorable microclimates; (3) developmentally appropriate play yards; (4) pedestrian access and site circulation; and (5) vehicular access and parking away from pedestrians and play. (KB)

Discusses school district progress in complying with the facility accessibility aspects outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It notes inconsistent compliance and the need for greater school district spending. The ADA's current impact and future concerns are addressed. (GR)

For the past 10 years the South Carolina Department of Education annually has rewarded the top 20% of its public elementary schools. Identifies a positive relationship between larger schools and sustained academic achievement, although the impact of size was relatively small. Smaller schools tended to be serving students in lower socioeconomic…

The University of Connecticut is revitalizing the Avery Point campus with two new buildings. A Marine Sciences and Technology Center will serve graduate and undergraduate students. A separate Marine Sciences Field Station/Hostel will house Project Oceanology: a science program for students in grades 5-12. (MLF)

Smart growth schools are small in size, encourage broad community involvement, and make good use of existing resources. Promoting small, community-based schools requires innovation, new partnerships, and a commitment to working to overcome the barriers presented by traditional rules and regulations. (Author/MLF)

The convergence of technical communication devices and services is transforming the learning, administrative, and facility control functions in schools. A communication system's study procedure uses a multidimensional matrix to assist planners in analyzing communication's infrastructure needs and configuration. (MLF)

Educational facility standards serve as a quality control, and facility standards for building area and size affect financing and are deterrents to abuse. Direct and expert involvement of planning professionals is necessary in applying standards to educational facility projects. (MLF)