Decision makers are realizing that large (and expensive to maintain) acreage requirements are making kids, and their parents, dependent on cars to shuttle them to and from school. Some states have already eliminated the minimums, and more want to.
The Environmental Protection Agency "hopes this spring to issue a call for proposals for a state-by-state approach to educating key decisionmakers about school siting standards. The initiative is seen as essential because many school systems continue building on oversized parcels, in locations that are hard to reach on foot -- worsening the epidemic of childhood obesity and straining the finances of communities."
"Arkansas and Wyoming are two states that adopted acreage standards in the past few years after previously leaving such decisions to local people. In all, approximately 27 states have guidelines or standards saying how much land a school should have, EPA policy analyst Tim Torma says."
"Usually the standards are based on the grade levels served - high schools require more land than elementary schools - and on the school's enrollment."
"School consolidation, a force in American life for three-quarters of a century, has exacerbated the tendency toward building schools at outlying locations and on sites that offer few pedestrian connections to homes and community services. From 1930 to 2002, the number of students in the US rose to 53 million from 28 million while the number of schools plummeted to 91,000 from 262,000."
Thanks to Gayle Ross
FULL STORY: Move toward neighborhood-scale schools slowly gains momentum

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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

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Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie