Prince Edward schools that helped usher in Brown v. Board still in disrepair National—MAY 17, 2024
A small group of Robert Russa Moton High School students in Farmville began gathering in secret MORE
| Virginia has history of underfunding school construction Virginia—MAY 17, 2024 Nature inspired the design of John Lewis Elementary School in Northwest D.C.
"We have our outside MORE | GDOE stands to lose $41M in American Rescue Plan money Guam—APRIL 28, 2024 The Education Supervisory Financial Commission is concerned that the Guam Department of Education could lose MORE | 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Announced National—APRIL 26, 2024 The U.S. Department of Education today announced the 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, MORE | FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Hosts First-Ever White House Summit for Sustainable and Healthy Schools National—APRIL 26, 2024 President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is providing unprecedented resources for K-12 schools to MORE |
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Publications
Funding for Educational Facilities: What Ohio, Wyoming, Arizona and New Jersey Are Doing to Fund their Public Educational Facilities Author(s): ACLU Maryland, Baltimore, MD Published By: ACLU Maryland -- 2003: [ abstract] Published By: ACLU Maryland Author(s): ACLU Maryland, Baltimore, MD In this paper the ACLU describes the experiences of 4 other states – Arizona, Wyoming, New Jersey, and Ohio – that have faced similar public school facilities challenges such as adequacy and the equity of Maryland’s school construction program, in the hope that the information will help a Task Force (created from the Bridge to Excellence Act) and Maryland’s school systems, educators, and legislators as they assess and implement the Task Force’s recommendations. Download: PDF
Citizens Oversight of Public School Construction Programs: In search of promising practices Published By: 21st Century School Fund -- 2003: [ abstract]  | Published By: 21st Century School Fund Information on the advantages associated with having a Citizen Oversight Committee as well as lessons and promising practices on how to develop and establish a committee. We interviewed ten districts with citizen oversight committees in place to determine some promising practices that are most effective in fulfilling the responsibilities and achieving the potential advantages of an oversight committee. Download: PDF |
District Education Advocacy Community Rejects Vouchers as Option for Improving Public Schools-- 2003: [ abstract] District of Columbia Education Advocates Response to the Federal Imposition of School Vouchers in the District of Columbia-- 2003: [ abstract] Linking School Working Conditions to Teacher Satisfaction and Success Author(s): BEST Collaboration Published By: Building Educational Success Together (BEST) -- 2003: [ abstract]  | Published By: Building Educational Success Together (BEST) Author(s): BEST Collaboration Improving education performance ranks high on the national agenda
Conspicuously absent has been an examination of how school conditions affect teaching and learning...
This study documents how a large sample of teachers in Chicago and Washington, DC rate the working conditions in their schools and how they perceive these conditions affecting their job performance and teaching effectiveness.
School facilities have a direct affect on teaching and learning. Poor school conditions make it more difficult for teachers to deliver an adequate education to their students, adversely affect teachers' health, and increase the likelihood that teachers will leave their school and the teaching profession. Our nation's school facilities are a critical part of the educational process. Their condition and upkeep must be addressed in the ongoing discourse about student achievement, teacher effectiveness, and accountability. Download: PDF |
Public School Facilities and Teaching-- 2003: [ abstract] As part of the BEST initiative, 21CSF commissioned a survey of 1950 public school teachers in Chicago and Washington, DC to assess the effect of school facilities on teaching. This survey was used to identify what factors teachers believe are important to their ability to teach; assess the adequacy of school conditions and school design as experienced by teachers; examine the distribution of quality school facilities; and analyze the impact of facilities on learning outcomes. Download: PDF
Public School Facilities and Teaching: Washington D.C. and Chicago Author(s): BEST Collaboration Published By: Building Educational Success Together (BEST) -- 2003: [ abstract] Published By: Building Educational Success Together (BEST) Author(s): BEST Collaboration As part of the BEST initiative, 21CSF commissioned a survey of 1950 public school teachers in Chicago and Washington, DC to assess the effect of school facilities on teaching. This survey was used to identify what factors teachers believe are important to their ability to teach; assess the adequacy of school conditions and school design as experienced by teachers; examine the distribution of quality school facilities; and analyze the impact of facilities on learning outcomes. Download: PDF
Vouchers in the District of Columbia: Analysis of private and parochial school capacity Published By: 21st Century School Fund -- 2003: [ abstract] Published By: 21st Century School Fund An analysis of private and parochial school capacity against D.C. voucher funds. Download: PDF
Why Johnny Can't Walk to School Anymore: Historic Neighborhood Schools in the Age of Sprawl Author(s): National Trust for Historic Preservation Published By: National Trust for Historic Preservation -- 2002: [ abstract] Published By: National Trust for Historic Preservation Author(s): National Trust for Historic Preservation The National Trust for Historic Preservation produced a 54-page report that asserts how important neighborhood schools are to serve as community anchors. At the same time, these institutions would support neighborhood conservation and and sustainable, smart growth. Download: PDF
Myth and Reality: A Study of Excess Space in the District of Columbia Public High Schools Published By: 21st Century School Fund -- 2002: [ abstract] Published By: 21st Century School Fund In conjunction with the Senior High Alliance of Parents, Principals, and Educators, 21CSF surveyed available space at two District high schools and compared this data with official records of usable space. The study found that DCPS estimates of square footage were off by almost 20% and that the DCPS education specifications and design standards are too general and have not been adapted to modernization projects. The report suggests that each high school undergo a careful individualized space before planning begins. Download: PDF
Building Outside the Box: Public-private partnership: A strategy for improved public buildings Published By: 21st Century School Fund -- 2002: [ abstract]  | Published By: 21st Century School Fund The process behind the public-private partnership that created the new Oyster Bilingual Elementary School in Washington, DC. The brochure follows the nine-year journey that began in 1992 through the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Oyster in 2001. Oyster was the first new school built in the city in over 20 years and it serves as a model of community involvement in school planning and creative financing for school construction. Download: PDF
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Do School Facilities Affect Academic Outcomes? Author(s): BEST Collaboration Published By: National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities -- 2002: [ abstract]  | Published By: National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities Author(s): BEST Collaboration In November 2002, the National Clearinghouse for Education Facilities published a review of current school facilities research commissioned by the 21st Century School Fund. This review concluded that spatial configurations, noise, temperature, daylight, and air quality have an affect on students’ and teachers’ ability to perform in the classroom. However, it pointed out the need for more empirical research and for standardized data so individual schools can make use of the existing body of research on best practices.
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For Generations To Come: A Leadership Guide to Renewing Public School Buildings Published By: 21st Century School Fund -- 2002: [ abstract]  | Published By: 21st Century School Fund There are many reasons to work to improve the school buildings in your community. Perhaps the school building is unsafe, it is too large, the classrooms are crowded and the enrollment is growing, or art is taught from a cart and the wiring cannot support computers. Or there may be facilities problems at the district level, with some schools overcrowded while others have empty classrooms, or the district may be considering a change from neighborhood to magnet schools.
This guide provides a framework for community involvement in the complex process of modernizing or building new public school buildings. Download: PDF |
Modernization of HD Cooke : Questions, Concerns, and Recommendations Published By: 21st Century School Fund -- 2002: [ abstract]  | Published By: 21st Century School Fund A series of questions and answers looking at the biggest problems with the current design of HD Cooke Elementary School, making recommendations on how to improve the plans and best make use of the space. With an in-depth analysis of the schematic plans and education specifications, the paper examines issues ranging from student enrollment projections, parking, and environmental concerns. It will serve as a model for other communities to evaluate designs being prepared for their local schools and as a blueprint for action for the HD Cooke community. Download: PDF |
District of Columbia Public Schools Safety Manual Published By: District of Columbia Public Schools -- 2001: [ abstract] Published By: District of Columbia Public Schools Describes the District of Columbia Public Schools' Safety and Health Program, as applicable to the employees of both DCPS Facilities and its contractors, performing construction, renovation, assessment, facility operation, and maintenance work. It also covers issues relevant to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for school personnel, students, and visitors. The manual documents appropriate requirements for workplace safety and health on DCPS capital projects and in DCPS facilities operation and maintenance activities; provides guidelines for achieving a safe and healthy environment for the students, staff and visitors of the DCPS school facilities during construction, renovation, maintenance and operations; delineates the organizational and procedural elements of the safety and health program for its effective implementation; and provides guidelines to designers on how to incorporate safety and health into facility and project design. Link: HTML
Replace or Modernize? The Future of the District of Columbia's Endangered Old and Historic Public Schools Published By: 21st Century School Fund -- 2001: [ abstract]  | Published By: 21st Century School Fund Addresses the community concern with the decision making process associated with the replacement or modernization of the District's public schools. It reviews past examples of the city's treatment of historic schools, considers the various factors involved in historic school renovation decisions, provides a narrative history of the school system through 1945 and a profile of every operating DC public school built before 1945. Download: PDF |
A History of Educational Facilities Laboratories (EFL) Author(s): National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities Published By: National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities -- 2001: [ abstract] Published By: National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities Author(s): National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities Presents information on the history, operations, and accomplishments of the Educational Facilities Laboratories (EFL), a nonprofit corporation established to help schools and colleges maximize the quality and utility of their facilities, stimulate research, and disseminate information to facility planners. Included are descriptions of EFL's funding, guiding principles, leadership, and operations over its 28-year history. It also explores EFL's aggressive philanthropic philosophy and innovative approaches to school project funding, it's development of the open plan approach that influenced basic school design in the 1960s and early 1970s, and the school construction systems and development team that created a standardized method for constructing school buildings. A discussion about EFL publications and a list of these publications and EFL films are provided.
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The relationship of school facilities conditions to selected student academic outcomes: A study of South Carolina public schools Author(s): Kenneth R. Stevenson Published By: South Carolina Education Oversight Committee -- 2001: [ abstract] Published By: South Carolina Education Oversight Committee Author(s): Kenneth R. Stevenson "This research project sought to determine if a relationship exists between school academic outcomes and school facilities characteristics. To address this issue, data were gathered from a variety of sources including research literature, state data files, principal questionnaires, and focus groups."
Download: PDF
Link: HTML
School Facilities Manual. Revised Fourth Edition-- 2000: [ abstract] This Washington State manual explains the full spectrum of activities involved in the planning, design, and construction of successful and cost-effective projects for school facilities. Chapters cover advance planning; financing; site selection; educational specifications; consultant selection; school design; bidding, evaluation, and award of construction contracts; the construction, closeout, acceptance, and occupancy process; and planned facility management. Included is an explanation of the procedures school districts must follow to apply for and receive state funds for school planning, design, and construction. Appendices provide a glossary and addresses for associations and state agencies involved in school facility planning, construction, and finance. Download: PDF
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Public School Capital Improvement Programs Basic Elements and Best Practices: Guidance for the District of Columbia Published By: 21st Century School Fund -- 1999: [ abstract]  | Published By: 21st Century School Fund The Scientex Corporation and the 21st Century School Fund were commissioned by the World Bank to conduct a review of the management of public school construction, locally and nationally, and provide a framework for rational decision-making by the District. The purpose of this report is to present the findings of this review and to suggest implications for the District’s infrastructure.
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