The Impact Aid program, administered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), was originally established in 1950 by P.L. 81-815 and P.L. 81-874, 15 years prior to the enactment of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Impact Aid compensates local educational agencies (LEAs) for a "substantial and continuing financial…

Doing more with less is noble in public education. This is something quality public charter schools do well. It is also something, that cash-strapped rural and high need schools across Idaho know all too well themselves. It is well documented that all of public education in Idaho operates on leaner rations than do schools in most parts of the…

Public school facilities primarily serve an educational role, and they also serve a civic role as voting places and emergency shelters. School districts collectively spend tens of billions of dollars each year on facilities construction needs at the nearly 100,000 K-12 public schools nationwide. About half (an estimated 54 percent) of public…

This article considers how the private finance initiative, a contract for infrastructure, affected teachers' perceptions of efficacy, job satisfaction, and morale at an urban secondary school in the United Kingdom. Qualitative data collection techniques, including unstructured observation and semistructured personal interviews, were utilized to…

Construction management on educational facility projects provides boards of education with documentation showing the project is on track. Eight "myths" surrounding construction management are explained. (MLF)

Describes construction process principles and discusses problems school owners experience: (1) laws that require selection of the lowest bidder, (2) decisions that must be made by the duly elected governing body, and (3) school board members who often lack knowledge about the construction process. Includes a quiz for owners and attorneys. (MLF)

Five major sources of construction disputes between architects and school clients are (1) errors, defects, or omissions in the contract documents; (2) cost-related problems; (3) changed conditions; (4) consumer reaction; and (5) interpersonal relationships. A clear understanding of each party's role is necessary to eliminate these conflicts. (MLF)

This report reviews the decision by the University of California's Board of Regents to create a new general campus near Merced to open in fall 2005 with 1,000 full-time-equivalent students (expected to grow to 5,000 FTES by fall 2010). The report reviews the planning history of the proposed campus, discusses the University of California's…

A study was done of how the College Construction Loan Insurance Association (Connie Lee) carried out its mission, particularly in its service to the 102 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The study interviewed officials at Connie Lee, HBCUs and other schools, the Department of Education, and representatives of the bond insurance…

Construction management is utilized when a school district engages a firm to coordinate a total project. The construction management seeks to save an owner time and cost primarily through better contractor coordination and project management. These services may include the planning and design phases of the project as well as the actual…

New schools will have to be built and existing facilities rehabilitated to house California's growing enrollment. The state conducted a study to determine the need for funding to meet this new demand. Questionnaires were sent to each of the state's 1,029 school districts and 58 county offices of education. Offices responsible for over 85 percent…

In February 1990, special hearings were held by the Kansas Senate and House Education Committees on the physical condition of school facilities. This document offers a three-part synopsis: a brief and selective review of the testimony given in February 1990; an overview of general finance methods; and a state-by-state executive summary of the…

This chapter reviews 1982 cases related to school property. Cases involving citizen efforts to overturn school board decisions to close schools dominate the property chapter, and courts continue to uphold school board authority to close schools, transfer students, and sell or lease the buildings. Ten cases involving detachment and attachment of…

This handbook provides information that administrators of maintenance and operations in California schools can use in systematically planning and scheduling school facility support services. The first unit, chapter 1, is designed to help members of school district governing boards establish board policies, regulations, and procedures. Topics…