D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1207
1207.1 Attractive, well-designed, and well-sited schools communicate respect for the people who use them and contribute to a positive school climate and productive learning. By strategically locating windows, access points, and gathering places, for example, school designers can foster student safety and security. High-quality site planning and architecture also provide an opportunity to enhance the learning experience.
1207.2 School modernization projects should take into consideration issues that extend beyond school boundaries, such as the safety of children traveling to and from school, public transit accessibility, the availability of open green space, playgrounds, and athletic facilities, as well as parking and traffic.
New construction, renovation or reconstruction of public, private, and public charter school facilities should use high architectural and landscape design standards that are sensitive to community context, as well as academic and student safety needs.
Strongly encourage design of K-12 public, private, and public charter schools to include appropriate measures that keep students healthy, secure, and safe, especially where multiple activities are accommodated in a single structure.
Strongly support the use of green building, energy efficiency, and green infrastructure development methods in school construction and rehabilitation of K-12 public, private, and public charter school design.
Continue to coordinate among District Department of Transportation (DDOT), DCPS, DC PCSB, and K-12 private school stakeholders to improve the safety of students walking or biking to and from school through design and transportation improvements in coordination with the safe routes to school program. In addition, new K-12 public, private, and public charter school buildings should be designed to foster safe and attractive pedestrian access. Encourage transit connections to high schools to provide easy access for students and teachers, thereby minimizing the need for driving to school.
See also the Transportation Element for additional information on modes of transit to schools.
1207.7 Policy EDU-1.5.5 School Projects and Design Plans Seek to better align proposed school modernization and new school projects with District-wide and place-based design plans so that school design achieves a high quality.
1207.8 Policy EDU-1.5.6: Historic Preservation Consider historic preservation concerns in the planning of DCPS and public charter schools, as well as private school facilities occupying DC government property.
1207.9 Policy EDU-1.5.7: Site Planning Continue to plan for the modernization of entire DCPS school campuses rather than just the school buildings. Where school facilities are adjoined by athletic fields, playgrounds, educational and community gardens, and open space, the improvement of these areas should be included in renovation plans wherever feasible. In addition, school employee parking should not be provided at the expense of recreational space.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).