I was poking around on the Internet and found this interesting National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities article entitled, Educational Trends Shaping School Planning and Design 2007 by Kenneth R. Stevenson, Department of Educational Leadership and Policies, College of Education, at the University of South Carolina. He originally wrote the article in 2002 and had ten points, but this is the latest version with 12 points. The trends that he has identified came about by reviewing the latest research along with the school facilities and student outcomes; current issues, problems, and initiatives in the educational field. It also takes into account any emerging demographics. Below are the top five trends...
Trend 1 - School Choice. Parents and policymakers around the country are unhappy with public education, so they have attempted to dismantle what they consider to be a public monopoly over the delivery of K–12 schooling. They have pushed for vouchers and tax credits that permit parental choice and offer alternatives to the local public school. In response, school districts are embracing the idea that parents and their children should have choices. So they have started offering parents options ranging from magnet schools to charters (Shostak, 2004), and by 2005 there were approximately 3,400 charter schools in the United States serving about 800,000 students (Carpenter, 2005).
Trend 2 - Small May Be Better. Over the next 25 years we may see elementary schools housing an average of 200 students, middle schools with no more than 400 to 500 students, and high schools with 500 to 750 students. Supporters argue that small schools are particularly good at improving the academic achievement for students who have not done well in traditional settings. They believe small schools have higher graduation rates and improved behavior among students(Wasley, 2002; et. al.).
Trend 3: Reduced Class Sizes. Significant research demonstrates that smaller-class benefits not only include enhanced academic performance but improved student behavior and teacher morale (Finn & Pannozzo, 2003). A few studies further suggest that such classes particularly benefit students whoare at risk (Nye, Hedges, & Konstantopoulos, 2004).
Trend 4: Technology in Education. School districts will need to develop effective methods to control costs caused by more-numerous neighborhood schools, lower teacher-pupil ratios, higher energy costs, and reduced tax revenues. One solution would be by means of virtual education, or “e-schooling” (Berge & Clark, 2005). Students seeking more specialized or advanced courses could take classes via closed circuit television or through Internet e-learning.
Trend 5: The Mission. School buildings must accommodate a change in mission. For example, schools attempting to maximize standardized achievement test scores may need to modify their curricula (Dillon, 2006). Students with academic difficulties may be required to take additional courses in their problem areas. To enhance scores on state or national tests, students may be required to sign up for a second course in math rather than taking art as an elective. And those students doing well in math or science may be encouraged to take more math and science, rather than non-academic electives. This will raise their school’s academic profile. As schools increase the focus on traditional academic subjects, demand for music, art, and vocational courses may diminish.
I find it fascinating that our own Children of the City (COC) charity in Brooklyn, NY is already proving some of these kinds of trends.
You can read more about Children of the City on my own personal Rocco Basile website. As a Board member, I know that our programs such as Create Success work. It is an after school and summer program for a student’s academic success. Click here to learn more about this program.
Trend 1 - School Choice. Parents and policymakers around the country are unhappy with public education, so they have attempted to dismantle what they consider to be a public monopoly over the delivery of K–12 schooling. They have pushed for vouchers and tax credits that permit parental choice and offer alternatives to the local public school. In response, school districts are embracing the idea that parents and their children should have choices. So they have started offering parents options ranging from magnet schools to charters (Shostak, 2004), and by 2005 there were approximately 3,400 charter schools in the United States serving about 800,000 students (Carpenter, 2005).
Trend 2 - Small May Be Better. Over the next 25 years we may see elementary schools housing an average of 200 students, middle schools with no more than 400 to 500 students, and high schools with 500 to 750 students. Supporters argue that small schools are particularly good at improving the academic achievement for students who have not done well in traditional settings. They believe small schools have higher graduation rates and improved behavior among students(Wasley, 2002; et. al.).
Trend 3: Reduced Class Sizes. Significant research demonstrates that smaller-class benefits not only include enhanced academic performance but improved student behavior and teacher morale (Finn & Pannozzo, 2003). A few studies further suggest that such classes particularly benefit students whoare at risk (Nye, Hedges, & Konstantopoulos, 2004).
Trend 4: Technology in Education. School districts will need to develop effective methods to control costs caused by more-numerous neighborhood schools, lower teacher-pupil ratios, higher energy costs, and reduced tax revenues. One solution would be by means of virtual education, or “e-schooling” (Berge & Clark, 2005). Students seeking more specialized or advanced courses could take classes via closed circuit television or through Internet e-learning.
Trend 5: The Mission. School buildings must accommodate a change in mission. For example, schools attempting to maximize standardized achievement test scores may need to modify their curricula (Dillon, 2006). Students with academic difficulties may be required to take additional courses in their problem areas. To enhance scores on state or national tests, students may be required to sign up for a second course in math rather than taking art as an elective. And those students doing well in math or science may be encouraged to take more math and science, rather than non-academic electives. This will raise their school’s academic profile. As schools increase the focus on traditional academic subjects, demand for music, art, and vocational courses may diminish.
I find it fascinating that our own Children of the City (COC) charity in Brooklyn, NY is already proving some of these kinds of trends.
You can read more about Children of the City on my own personal Rocco Basile website. As a Board member, I know that our programs such as Create Success work. It is an after school and summer program for a student’s academic success. Click here to learn more about this program.
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