“Schools for Successful Communities: An Element of Smart Growth” is posted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. .
In planning the construction of new school facilities and making key decisions on how to spend taxpayer dollars, school districts should consider more than the student academic environment, suggests a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
By applying principles of “smart growth”—such as building accessible community-centered schools within walking distance of local neighborhoods, preserving green space, and investing in existing infrastructure—city planners and district officials can improve the quality of life for students as well as their surrounding communities, the EPA says.
The report includes case studies as well as model policy and planning tips for schools to use as guidelines when planning construction projects.
