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Image of students and teacher, top half The KEYS 2.0 Online Action Guide
Image of students and teacher, bottom half Welcome | Introduction | About the KEYS Action Guide
KEY 1 | KEY 2 | KEY 3 | KEY 4 | KEY 5 | KEY 6 | NEXT STEPS | APPENDIX
key 5 INTRODUCTION | RESOURCES | SUCCESS STORIES
Indicators 1 |  2 |  3 |  4 |  5
KEY 5 - INDICATOR 3
Space for instructional activities is adequate.

This indicator examines whether or not your school adequately meets space requirements for instructional activities. It focuses on the space requirements not only for "regular"classrooms but for "special"activities as well.

Information from past KEYS activities points to lack of space as a chronic school problem. In addition, the 1995 GAO survey, "Conditions of American Schools,"found that more than one-third of schools are in bad condition— 42 percent do not have adequate science labs, 38 percent do not have large instructional space, more than 75 percent do not have space for day care, nearly 60 percent cannot provide before- and after-school care.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
  1. What problems, if any, do instruction and support professionals experience with existing space limitations?

  2. What is currently being done to address classroom space limitations that have instructional consequences?

  3. What do members of the school community think about the quality of instructional space?

  4. What can be done to build a school-community partnership that can help solve problems associated with space limitations?

ACTIVITY
  • Form a study group to discuss how to improve the quality of the physical facilities. The staff, rotating group leadership, can work together to plan and develop activities. Duties of the group leader should include:

    1. Selecting common reading and making it available to all group members before the meeting.
    2. Structuring discussion by preparing a question or problem to consider.
    3. Facilitating the discussion.
    4. Ensuring that someone take minutes of the meeting and distribute them.
    5. Guiding the group in making a decision about the direction the next meeting should take.
 

Welcome | Introduction | About the KEYS Action Guide
KEY 1 | KEY 2 | KEY 3 | KEY 4 | KEY 5 | KEY 6 | NEXT STEPS | APPENDIX

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© 2002 by the National Education Association