Kennedy, M. (2011).
This article discusses the natural daylighting options school designs can incorporate. General daylighting recommendations are provided. Students in Kinard CARES demonstrate the natural daylighting features at Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School, Fort Collins, Colorado.
McGraw-Hill Construction (2011).
This report takes a look at prefabrication and modularization and their impact on a major initiative within our industry -- improving productivity. The report is based on an internet survey of AEC professionals which gathered data on the impact of prefabrication and modularization on key industry productivity metrics including project schedules, costs, safety, quality, eliminating waste and creating green buildings.
Tanner, C. K., & West, D. (2011). 2 (1)
Does the size of a school’s student population influence academic achievement levels among its students? Evolving from the “smaller is better” discussions and emergent theory on educational outcomes and school size, this question guided a study of 303 Georgia high schools to determine if the total high school population or school size influenced students’ outcomes defined in terms of test scores and graduation rates. Based upon the findings of this study, school size played no significant importance in students’ academic achievement. Therefore, regarding Georgia high schools, the size of the student population (school size) has little to no impact on academic achievement or graduation rates. This conclusion, however, may complement the arguments and developing theory that there is a point of maximum benefit or achievement levels in curvilinear measures of school size as compared to student outcomes and economy of scale.
Romeo, J. (2011). 50 (11)
Restroom technology and design in today's K-12 school environment have several points of concern for school boards as well as those who design and build them. These include the cost of materials and insuring that the restroom is design to conserve resources such as accessories and supplies. The article presents how planners and designers need to consider fixtures and products, within K-12 restrooms, as an integral part of the school's community and total school environment.
Efficient Window Collaborative (2011).
Efficient Windows Collaborative detailed a fact sheet of efficient window design as an important opportunity to save energy, money, and enhance the learning environment. The fact sheet further provides information on financing energy-efficient retrofits, including window design.
Steiner, J. (2011). 1
This paper presents a regression model that analyzes the effects of school enrollment and schools per district on costs per pupil and standardized test passing ates in Indiana elementary and secondary schools. This model employed data from the Indiana Department of Education and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The results showed that districts with more schools had higher costs per pupil and that a school’s enrollment had no significant effect on student achievement. In addition, the results suggest that school consolidation could cut costs while not necessarily lowering student achievement levels. // Steiner, J. (2011). Are big schools bad schools? Measuring the effects of the number and size of schools on district costs and student achievement. Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research, 1, 46 – 51.
Abramson, P. (2011).
Total school construction fell in 2010, but even so, more than $14.5 billion dollars of construction was put in place making schools one of the largest construction markets in the United States. The SP&M Construction Report provides information on expenditures for new construction, additions and retrofits in the U.S. It addition, it provides regional and national medians and a profile of what these new school will provide.
Zoda, P. F., Combs, J. P., & Slate, J. (2011). 2 (1)
In this investigation, we examined the passing rates of Black students in all Texas public elementary schools for 5 years (i.e., 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, and 2007-2008) on the state-mandated reading, math, and writing assessments.
Lang, S. (2010).
This article explores the planning and design of educational facilities from a gender perspective, with a view to guiding future research and policy analysis.
Kuhlman, R. (2010).
School districts are responsible for the education of almost 50 million public school students. Nearly all decision about the use and location of school facilities are made by local school districts-but the impact of these decisions goes far beyond the school and the education of its students. This report identifies the larger community interest in decisions about retaining existing schools and deciding where to locate new ones. It describes the states' role in school siting decisions and identifies state level policy changes that will ensure that educational, environmental, health, community, and fiscal considerations are weighed by communities when school districts make school closing, consolidation, and site selection decisions.
