Smart School Siting Tool | Smart Growth | US EPA

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School locations and community development are inextricably linked. School locations affect community land use patterns and infrastructure needs. Local land use, the location and capacity of road and utility networks, and community investments in economic development, housing, and other social programs affect school surroundings and learning environments. Taken together, school siting and other community decisions influence housing and transportation choices, neighborhood vitality, economic development, costs of community services, environmental quality, and overall community health and well-being.

Cover of The Smart School Siting Tool User GuideThese strong connections between school location and community development suggest the importance of coordinating and aligning school siting and other community decisions. However, in many communities, planning and decisions about school siting and other community priorities are disconnected.

Improved coordination between school and other local government agencies on school siting decisions can yield multiple community benefits, including:

School siting and other community priorities that reinforce—rather than work against—each other.
Better learning environments and educational outcomes.
More efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Higher quality of life.

Link: 

Smart School Siting Tool | Smart Growth | US EPA

MoBikeFed comment: School siting has been an issue in our work to encourage more children in Missouri to walk and bicycle to school as part of our Safe Routes to School program.

School location and design is a very important consideration--many schools are located in places that make it impossible or unsafe for children to walk or bicycle. Good school sites allow many children to walk and bicycle to school routinely, and allow schools to become an important community resource.