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 about l.5 percent of the cost of construction. General information concerning the seismic hazard and seismic design for elementary and secondary schools is contained in part 1 of this publication. Part 2 contains more technical considerations for school designers including basic design problems that affect the seismic performance of schools, and the ways in which the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) "Recommended Provisions for the Development of Seismic Regulations for New Buildings" in particular and understanding of seismic design issues in general can work to protect elementary and secondary schools. Figures and photographs are included with the text; appended are a glossary, measures of earthquake magnitude and intensity, earthquake experiences of California schools, and seismicity information by region. The last 14 pages of the document contain information about the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC). (30 references) (MLF)