Argues well-designed middle schools support the physical, social, cognitive, and emotional changes students experience. Promotes a design that is a hybrid of the home-based, child-centered elementary model and the elective-based, campus high school model. Focuses on enabling cross-curriculum, interdisciplinary team instruction in smaller,…

Provides advice to school leaders in working with the school community to design, develop, and implement plans for a safe and secure learning environment. Argues the process requires communication with students, staff, parents, community, and the school district. Focuses on analyzing potential threats, incidence management, and incident reporting.…

Provides strategies for school-level personnel to take an active role in improving how their facility functions in the education process. Includes advice on seeking a role in facilities design, encouraging the district to use facilities management tools, considering the unusual, and championing the cause of better school facilities. (SD)

Provides examples of middle school facilities design considerations for both new and remodeled buildings. Argues that the planning process is critical and offers advice including developing and reviewing the philosophy, selecting planning participants, conducting a Futures Workshop, beginning the process, planning at the microlevel, research, and…

Argues classrooms must provide an appropriately stimulating environment that supports learning and provides teachers and students with a comfortable place to learn. Lists requisite factors of the school environment including furniture, aesthetics, color, carpet, building maintenance, decorating detail, comfort, space/design, lighting, classroom…