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Legal, Regulatory, and Policy Framework for School Design in California
Fred Yeager
Assistant Director
School Facilities Planning Division
California Department of Education
Jack O'Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Slides
1. The Mission of the California Department of Education, School Facilities Planning Division is to:
"Provide the children of California with safe and educationally appropriate facilities and transportation services."
2. Context
Table showing:
That there were 5,185 elementary schools in 1997 and in 2007 there were a total of 5,770 elementary schools. An increase of 585.
That there were 1,119 middle schools in 1997 and in 2007 there were 1,293 middle schools. An increase of 174.
That there were 860 high schools in 1997 and in 2007 there were 1,214 high schools. An increase of 354.
That there were 1,015 alternative schools in 1997 and in 2007 there were 1,494 alternative schools. An increase of 479.
That there were 142 charter schools in 1997 and in 2007 there were 675 charter schools. An increase of 533.
That there were a total of 8,321 schools in 1997 and in 2007 there were 10,446 schools. An increase of 2,125.
3. Context
A graph of California K-12 Enrollment from 1997-2007.
4. Context
A graph of California K-12 Enrollment from 1997-2007 by school type (elementary, middle/junior high, and high).
5. Context
The five largest districts using 2007 enrollment
- Los Angeles Unified School District with an enrollment of 693,680.
- San Diego Unified School District with an enrollment of 131,577.
- Long Beach Unified School District with an enrollment of 88,186.
- Fresno Unified School District with an enrollment of 76,460.
- Elk Grove Unified School District with an enrollment of 62,694.
6. Context
The five smallest districts using 20007 enrollment.
- Panoche Elementary School District with an enrollment of 7.
- Maple Creek Elementary School District with an enrollment of 9.
- Union Elementary School District with an enrollment of 9.
- Blake Elementary School District with an enrollment of 10.
- Ravendale-Termo Elementary School District with an enrollment of 11.
7. Context
K-12 School Construction Funding 1982-2008
- State bonds - $45 billion
- Local district bonds - $56 billion
8. Overview
California districts have wide latitude in school design decisions
- Made within a statutory and regulatory framework that includes:
- Compliance with site selection standards
- Compliance with plan standards developed
- California Department of education - Title 5
- Division of State Architecture - Title 24
9. Overview
State participates in the funding of most projects
- State Allocation Board
- Prescribed eligibility calculation
- Funding for new construction and modernization
- Per student allocation
- Local matching share
- CDE approval needed prior to funding
10. Role of the California Department of Education
Develop standards for school site selection and design - Education Code Section 17251
11. Role of the California Department of Education
Standards are contained in the California Code of Regulations, Title 5, sections 14010 and 14030
- Adopted by the State Board of Education in 1993 and revised in 2000
- Minimum standards for safety and educational appropriateness
- Pedestrian safety
- Classroom square footage
12. Role of the California Department of Education
Title 5 Plan Review Process
- The district governing board adoption of educational specifications
- The California Department of Education review of preliminary plans
- The California Department of Education approval of final plans
13. Role of the California Department of Education
Title 5 standards are:
- Prescriptive/quantitative
- Classroom size
- General classroom equals 960 square feet
- Kindergarten classroom equals 1,350 square feet
- Classroom size
- Performance/qualitative
- Lighting
- Acoustics
14. Role of the California Department of Education
Code Compliance
The California Department of Education's review ensures that various code provisions are met including:
- Phones in classrooms
- Career Technical Education Facilities
- Site contamination investigation and remediation
15. Role of the California Department of Education
Technical assistance and best practices documents including:
- Physical education facilities
- Nutrition service facilities
- Site selection
- Development of educational specifications
16. The California Department of Education Review Tensions
After the fact review for compliance versus early consultation in design stages to better incorporate standards and best practices.
17. The California Department of Education Review Tensions
Responsiveness to local needs versus compliance with statewide standards and equity.
18. The California Department of Education Review Tensions
Cost and time versus better design.
19. The California Department of Education Review Tensions
Modernization that impacts the many versus new construction that impacts the few.
20. The California Department of Education Review Tensions
Performance standards versus prescriptive standards.
21. "By improving our school facilities, and by promoting facilities designed specifically to help close the achievement gap, we improve California's ability to deliver a world class education for all students."
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O'Connell, December 13, 2007.
