Background: The Ohio School Facilities Commission was set up in response to litigation compelling the state to achieve a more equitable distribution in the quality of school facilities. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was a federal policy to stimulate the United States economy and support school facility construction. These two…

School districts held an exclusive franchise on public education services until 1991, when Minnesota passed the first law permitting public charter schools. Charter schools are publicly funded, authorized by various agencies designated in public law, but independently managed. They operate outside district control, and most can draw students from…

This study investigates what factors are associated with the likelihood of passing school facility construction bonds by local district election. It uses statewide data from Michigan, 1998-2006, to examine the outcome of 789 bond elections in terms of the following ten variables: amount of the bond request; district enrollment; district locale;…

Discusses how a collaborative partnership between facility designers and contractors can help solve school construction problems given the growing design complexities now being demanded. Various problematic design innovations are addressed, including the use of pods, quads, and community centers; and how these designs create opportunities for…

Illustrates how systems planning can be used in the recycling of old school space and in erecting multistory additions. (Author/DN)

Describes the architectural design, costs, general description, and square footage data for the Montcalm Community College, Beatrice E. Doser Building, Sidney, Michigan. A floor plan and photos are included along with a list of manufacturers and suppliers used for the project. (GR)

Despite growing interest in the condition of school facilities as a dimension of school finance adequacy, reliable measures of capital stock for large samples of schools are hard to come by. In this article, we offer new methods for (a) measuring the existing capital stock of public schools, (b) defining adequacy in school facilities, and (c)…

Describes and illustrates an innovative new elementary school in Livonia, Michigan that has a 7,000 square foot library. (JF)

Provides photos, a floor plan, and general description of an elementary school designed to instill in its students a sense of self, community, pride, and responsibility for others. Construction data and costs are included along with information about the architectural firm and construction team. (GR)