This paper focuses on student assignment and building capacity components of school utilization. School utilization planning requires an understanding of space needs for the range of academic programs offered in a school, as well as classroom and common spaces available for student use and the number of students anticipated in the future. Paper examines: student assignment policies and practices that influence school enrollment; current school size target enrollment ranges to meet program goals; a new model for assessing building capacity based on instructional use, and; trends in school utilization expected in the next decade. 14p

This study defines functional capacity of schools, and then provides an analysis of the capacity of two elementary schools of Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District (Philipsburg Elementary and Osceola-Mills Elementary) to absorb the enrollment of a closed school. 11p.

This paper presents an assessment, spreadsheets and floor plan as evidence that the DOE needs to carefully reconsider its recommendation to extend the co-location of the PAVE Charter School in the PS15 school building. 15p.

Reports that older, established public schools are being closed, forced to share their resources with newly created charter schools, or required to accommodate students displaced when their schools were closed and replaced by charter schools. Overcrowding, school capacity, shared resources, charter schools, and the small schools movement are some of the issues associated with co-location. Errors in the New York City Department of Education's Educational Impact Statements on school co-locations are highlighted, and a moratorium on co-locations pending further, independent analysis is called for. 5p.

Presents an annual report published by the New York City Department of Education. The report includes the physical capacity of all Department of Education buildings to serve students, compared to the actual enrollment of the building, which together allow for a standard framework with which to assess the utilization of the buildings. The report provides information on buildings operating with insufficient capacity, allowing planning for major capital projects (including new school buildings, school annexes and additions, and other upgrades that expand a buildings capacity); understanding the conditions under which multiple schools share a single building; and making informed decisions about enrollment growth or placement of new schools or programs in under-utilized buildings.

Research was conducted to provide a perspective on the potential building needs of Pennsylvania school districts over the next 10 years. The researcher developed an inventory of school buildings in rural Pennsylvania through a survey of rural school districts, analyzed enrollment trends for rural school districts over the next 10 years, developed a statistical model to examine future building needs, and determined whether school districts will be at risk of under- or over-capacity. The findings provide a complex portrait of Pennsylvania’s current rural school building conditions and projections of building use over the next 10 years. Based on the findings, the researcher recommends the following policy considerations: 1)The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and school districts should consider establishing a reporting system to effectively monitor school building conditions; 2) School districts should consider ways to use under-used school buildings and maximize public use of school facilities; and 3) PDE and school districts should consider the changing face of student learning environments to accurately assess building capacity needs. 16p.

Examines data from every school in New York City to provide an overview of the most urgently overcrowded schools and school districts, and proposes a policy framework for the Department of Education (DOE) to tackle the crisis. The report found 515 school buildings with a total enrollment of 501,632 students (approximately 48% of the 1,042,078 students enrolled in the city's public schools that year) were either overcrowded or had associated temporary structures during the 2006/07 school year based on the city's own data available in its Enrollment-Capacity-Utilization Report for the same school year. Recommendations for relief of the situation are included and extensive tables illustrate the text. 270p.

Discusses comprehensive qualitative assessment of higher education facilities. The assessment process includes space capacity, facilities quality, special facilities, infrastructure and sustainability. Differing methodologies for qualitative assessment are detailed, with emphasis on the inclusion of pedagogues and others knowledgeable in space configurations and equipment, as well as implementation of the Facility Quality INdex (FCI).

Presents an interview with Amy Yurko, an efficiency programmer and planner for schools. She discusses capacity, scheduling, removing clutter, sharing spaces, adaptability of buildings from different eras, and current trends in school facility management.