Educational Specifications & Planning
Design that starts with how students learn
Educational specifications describe what a school needs to support its programs before anyone draws a floor plan. K12CG connects educational programs, space needs, functionality and district standards to facilities planning and design, so pre-design decisions are clear, documented and ready for the architect.
The most important design decisions happen before design.
When program needs are unclear, design becomes the place where they get worked out. That is the most expensive place to do it. Rooms get resized, adjacencies change and scope grows after the budget is set, often late enough to affect schedule and cost.
Educational specifications give the district, the architect and the community a shared definition of what the school must do: the programs it serves, the spaces those programs require, how spaces relate to one another and the standards the district expects. They also connect the project to the district’s master plan, capacity needs and budget.
In California, school site and plan considerations under Title 5 are coordinated with the California Department of Education, typically by the district and its architect. K12CG helps the district organize that information early and understand where CDE input fits, while deferring to CDE for current requirements and approvals.
Scope
What’s included
Stakeholder and program visioning
Facilitated sessions with district leaders, teachers, staff and community members to define the educational vision and the programs the facility must support.
Space program
A room-by-room list of spaces, sizes and quantities tied to enrollment, program and staffing, so every space has a documented purpose.
Functionality and adjacencies
How spaces need to work and relate to one another: supervision, circulation, shared use, flexibility and after-hours community access.
District design standards
Alignment with district standards for finishes, systems, technology, safety and maintenance, so new spaces are consistent and practical to operate.
CDE site and plan considerations
We help the district and its architect identify the CDE and Title 5 considerations that apply to the project and plan for them early, confirming current requirements directly with CDE.
Capacity and enrollment alignment
Right-sizing the program against enrollment trends, loading assumptions and existing capacity across the district.
Budget alignment and pre-design decisions
Testing the space program against the available budget and documenting key decisions, tradeoffs and priorities before design begins.
Architect handoff and design review
A clear handoff to the design team and owner-side review at each design phase to confirm the drawings still reflect the approved specifications.
How we work
Assess. Align. Advance.
- 01
Assess
We review existing facilities, enrollment, current programs, the master plan and district standards to understand where the project starts.
- 02
Align
We work with district leaders, educators and the community to agree on the educational vision and the programs the facility must support.
- 03
Prioritize
We translate the vision into a space program and functional requirements, and separate essential needs from desirable ones.
- 04
Fund
We test the program against the budget and potential funding sources, and document the pre-design decisions the board needs to make.
- 05
Deliver
We hand the approved specifications to the architect and review each design phase against them, coordinating CDE considerations with the design team.
- 06
Update
Specifications stay current as programs, enrollment and standards evolve, and become a reusable template for future district projects.
Deliverables
What your district keeps
- Educational vision and program summary
- Room-by-room space program with sizes and quantities
- Functional requirements and adjacency diagrams
- District design standards checklist for the project
- Summary of CDE site and plan considerations to coordinate
- Capacity and enrollment alignment summary
- Budget alignment and pre-design decision log
- Design review comments at each phase
Keep exploring
Try it, read it, see it
What Is a Facilities Master Plan, and Why Does Your District Need One?
A facilities master plan connects the condition of your buildings to your educational program, enrollment and budget. Done well, it becomes the roadmap for every capital decision that follows.
Read the guide Interactive FMPSee how the data lives on
Explore a demo of the Interactive Facilities Master Plan, with district, school and building drill-downs.
View the demoOfficial resources
Straight from the source
Links open state agency websites in a new tab. Requirements change, so always confirm current rules with the agency.
FAQ
Questions districts ask us
Let’s compare approaches
Want a second perspective before you decide? We’ll talk through your facilities needs, options, and how we would approach the work, with no sales presentation required.
Related services
Works well with
Facilities Master Planning
A districtwide plan that ties condition, capacity and educational need to a prioritized, fundable capital program.
Explore the service FundProp 2 / State Funding Support
Owner-side support to prepare, submit and track state funding materials that match your facilities plan.
Explore the service DeliverProgram & Project Management
Owner-side controls, procurement and cost stewardship that help deliver your capital priorities on budget and with fewer surprises.
Explore the serviceGive us 10 minutes. Let’s compare approaches.
Tell us where your facilities stand and what your board is asking. We’ll share how districts like yours are approaching it. No pitch deck, no obligation.