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Related Entries:
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Responsible Office: Chief Operating Officer
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ACD, CFA, FAA-RA, JEE, JEE-RA
Planning and Capital Programming
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Long-Range Educational Facilities Planning
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A.
PURPOSE
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The Board of Education has a primary responsibility to plan
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for
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patterns and sustain high quality educational programs in
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accordance with the policies of the Board.
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Education fulfills this responsibility through the facilities
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planning process.
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is essential to identify the infrastructure needed to ensure
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success for every student.
school
facilities
that
address
changing
enrollment
The Board of
Long-range educational facilities planning
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The Long-range Educational Facilities Planning (LREFP) policy
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guides the planning process.
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promote public understanding of planning for Montgomery County
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Public Schools (MCPS) and to encourage community members and
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organizations, local government agencies, and municipalities
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to identify and communicate their priorities and concerns to
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the superintendent and the Board.
The process is designed to
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B.
ISSUE
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Enrollment in MCPS is constantly changing.
The fundamental
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goal of facilities planning is to provide a sound educational
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environment for changing enrollment.
The number of students,
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their
and
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characteristics of this population all impact facilities
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planning.
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including birth rates, movement within the school system and
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into the school system from other parts of the United States
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and the world.
geographic
distribution,
the
demographic
Net enrollment changes are driven by factors
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MCPS is among the largest school systems in the country in
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terms of enrollment and serves a county of approximately 500
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square miles.
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rural to urban, is present in the county.
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enrollment has increased where new communities have formed, as
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well as in established areas of the county where turnover of
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houses has altered the demographic composition of communities.
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In areas with affordable housing, there is often greater
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diversity in enrollment caused by immigration.
The full range of population density, from
Since 1984,
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MCPS is challenged continually to anticipate and plan for
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facilities in an efficient and fiscally responsible way to
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meet the varied educational needs of students.
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policy describes how the school system responds to educational
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and enrollment change, the rate of change, its geographic
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distribution,
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diversification of enrollment.
and
the
racial,
ethnic,
and
The LREFP
socioeconomic
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School facilities also change.
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requires
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modernization.
a
program
of
Aging of the physical plant
maintenance,
renovation,
and
Acquiring new sites, designing new facilities,
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and modifying existing facilities to keep current with program
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needs is essential.
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coordinate planning for capital improvements.
This policy provides the framework to
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C.
POSITION
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The long-range facilities planning process will continue to:
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1.
Plan
for
utilization
of
schools
in
ways
that
are
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consistent with sound educational practice and consider
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the impact of facility changes on educational program and
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related
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community
operating
budget
requirements
and
on
the
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2.
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Provide a constructive and collaborative advisory role
for the community in facilities planning activities
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3.
Provide a six-year capital improvements program and
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educational
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enrollment projections, educational program needs, and
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available school capacity countywide, and identify:
facilities
master
plan
which
include
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a)
When new schools and additions will be needed to
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keep facilities current with enrollment levels and
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educational program needs
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b)
When to modernize older school buildings in order
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to continue their use on a cost-effective basis,
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and to keep facilities current with educational
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program needs
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c)
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When
school
closures
and
consolidations
are
appropriate due to declining enrollment levels
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4.
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Provide for straight articulation in school assignments
where possible by:
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Structuring
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possible, creating clusters composed of one high school,
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and a sufficient number of elementary and middle schools,
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each of which sends its students, including special
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education and ESOL students, to the next higher level
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school in that cluster.
high schools for Grades 9-12 and, where
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5.
Provide a process for facility design that ensures a safe
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and secure environment and is consistent with educational
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program needs
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6.
Provide a process for changing school boundaries and
establishing student choice assignment plans that:
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a)
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Solicit input at the outset of the process by
forming a community advisory committee
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b)
Consider four main factors in development of school
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boundaries and student choice assignment plans,
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including:
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1)
Facility utilization levels
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2)
Demographic
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characteristics
of
student
population
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3)
Geographic proximity of communities to schools
4)
Stability of school assignments over time
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7.
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Provide a process for closing and consolidating
schools that meets the requirements of COMAR
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8.
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The superintendent will issue regulations detailing
the continuing processes referenced above
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D.
DESIRED OUTCOMES
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A long-range educational facilities planning process that
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identifies
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quality educational facilities to all students.
the
infrastructure
necessary
to
deliver
high
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E.
REVIEW AND REPORTING
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1.
The annual June publication of the Educational Facilities
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Master Plan will constitute the official reporting on
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facility
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facilities actions taken during the year by the Board of
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Education and approved by the County Council.
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Plan will project the enrollment and utilization of each
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school, and identify schools and sites that may be
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involved in future planning activities.
planning.
This
document
will
reflect
all
The Master
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2.
This policy will be reviewed in accordance with the Board
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of Education's policy review process.
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Policy History:
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amended
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Resolution
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No. 679-95, October 10, 1995;
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September 14, 1999; updated office titles June 1, 2000; updated
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November 4, 2003; revised .
by
Adopted by Resolution No. 257-86, April 28, 1986;
Resolution
No.
271-87,
May
12,
1987;
amended
by
No. 831-93, November 22, 1993; amended by Resolution
amended by Resolution No. 581-99
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