The 1986 North Carolina Public School Facilities Standards were legislated in 1996 to become Facility Guidelines. A Public School Facilities Task Force was appointed to review and make revisions. These 1997 guidelines define and describe minimum facilities to ensure educational program appropriateness and long-term cost efficiency. They were developed to provide school systems and designers with useful and reliable design information to use as a basis for new schools, additions, and renovations. Guidelines, comments and recommendations are provided for the following educational spaces: (1) school sites; (2) regular classrooms; (3) science; (4) small-group resource rooms; (5) exceptional children; (6) arts education (music, visual arts, theater arts, and dance); (7) workforce development; (8) media centers; (9) physical education; (10) administration; (11) student support areas; (12) staff support areas; (13) common circulation and entries; (14) cafeterias; and (15) building support areas. Recommendations are also made on technology infrastructure, designing safer schools and on plumbing, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning. Design information is provided. The appendix includes the statutes that relate to public school construction in the state; feasibility and cost analysis; class sizes and teacher allotments; suggested sizing for media rooms; and recommended lighting systems. The appendix also contains a form required from boards of education that submit plans with deviations from the standards. (JM)