Each month, "American School & University" provides a mix of thought-provoking features, how-to-articles, industry reports, exclusive surveys, new sections, insightful columns, new product introductions and case histories to assist education officials in better performing their jobs. This July 2005 issue includes the following: "Sweat Shop"…

America is changing and, as it does, so will its educational system. This article examines demographic changes the country is experiencing, the conflicts these changes are generating, and how education--and particularly school facilities--may be different in the future as a result. Conflicts addressed include (a) baby boomers versus an emerging…

In 2005, the OECD Programme on Educational Building (PEB) organised two international experts' group meetings to discuss how countries define and evaluate quality in educational facilities. The research and experiences of six experts are presented in this article, in addition to the lessons learned from the experts' group meetings. The director of…

Among U.S. children ages six to 14, about one in eight has a disability. To give the five million students with disabilities the same access to facilities as others, schools are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Schools not in compliance invite lawsuits and risk losing federal funding or accreditation. Many older…

This document presents the process of radon diagnostics and mitigation in schools to help educators determine the best way to reduce elevated radon levels found in a school. The guidebook is designed to guide school leaders through the process of measuring radon levels, selecting the best mitigation strategy, and directing the efforts of a…

This digest briefly reviews the current movement to downsize urban schools to help educators decide whether and why to pursue such a move, and to indicate which models appear most promising. Research evidence is strong that small schools benefit the entire school community. Small schools are particularly beneficial for disadvantaged youth, who…

This book documents the history of the prairie schoolhouse through text and photographs. The prairie schoolhouse was a product of the Western Homestead Era, those years beginning late in the 19th century when the federally owned grass prairies east of the Rockies and the sagebrush country of the interior Northwest were opened to farming.…

To help plan for the building or renovating of a media center, this paper presents a list of questions that the steering committee and the architect or project leader needs to answer. It opens with some general rules for planning, such as using a steering committee composed of stakeholders, involving the architect as soon as possible, not…

Researchers, consulting professionals, and advocating agencies agree that school facility design is one essential component to a safe and successful school. This document addresses design-related concepts that can positively affect school climate and order. It describes and provides facility planning guidelines for crime prevention through…

Elementary and secondary schools deserve special attention with respect to seismic safety because of their special occupancy characteristics and their importance to immediate and long-term earthquake disaster relief and recovery efforts. Seismic safety provisions, when incorporated in a sound design from the very beginning, usually amount to only…

Educational philosophy, land economics, cost benefit, environmental strategy, and decentralization reinforce the evolution of the small school as the educational shape of today. (Author/DW)

This report is one of a series of briefs prepared by the American Institute of Architects National Committee on Architecture for Education addressing ways and means of reducing costs in the design and delivery of educational facilities. Specifically, this report discusses the advantages of designing with maintenance in mind, presents…

The Standard's purpose is to provide design requirements that will improve energy utilization in new State of Alaska owned rural educational facilities ranging in size from 7,000 to 12,000 square feet. The Standard covers exterior envelopes and selection of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, service water systems, energy…

This instructional guide provides materials for a program in the Department of Defense Dependents Schools designed to provide the high school student with the opportunity to explore graphic communications. Introductory materials include the philosophy of graphic communications, organization and numbering code, and use of symbols. The general and…

Condensed from "The High School Journal, Volume 52 (November 1968), 51-61.