Deterioration of Schools Cited

Groups representing school planners and architects are calling for renewed private and public investment in the nation’s school buildings.

Citing studies that show a strong relationship between school design and student performance, the Council of Educational Facility Planners International and the American Institute of Architects issued a six-point “call to action.”

It urges local, state and federal lawmakers and the private sector to work together on raising public awareness of the deteriorated condition of the nation’s schools. The average school building is 40 years old and lacks efficient classroom design, heating, cooling and air filtration systems, the two groups said.