Regardless of roles in society, people will be affected by what happens in the field of education in the coming decades. The impact may be personal and direct as a child or grandchild moves through the schooling process. Or, it may well relate to the quality of employees and, thus, chances for business success. Certainly, the impact the educational system in this country will have on the quality of all of lives is apparent. The knowledge gained, the work habits developed, and even the moral values learned by today's students in schools will, for every American, at least partially determine the future efficacy of America's health care system, affect our place as a country in the world market place, and influence the level of safety and security Americans will experience individually and collectively in the coming decades. Within this context, this paper presents both possibilities and critical issues related to what the future holds for the field of education and the facilities that house it. This is done with the hope that, regardless of one's role or position- that is, parent, educator, employer, or citizen- the reader will gain a greater sense of what to expect in terms of the direction of education, and how school facilities will be affected by- and affect- that direction. The anticipation is that, by enhanced understanding of educational trends, people will individually and collectively be better able to successfully fulfill various individual, societal, and corporate roles and responsibilities in the coming years.