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Minimum Acreage Requirements Have Detrimental Effects on Small, Rural Schools, New Report Finds "Land for Granted" Assesses Impact of State Acreage Policies In many states, receiving state aid to build a new school--or renovate an existing one--is contingent on compliance with state policies that state the minimum acreage necessary for a particular type of school. A new report from the Rural School and Community Trust (Rural Trust) finds that these minimum acreage requirements--imposed in 23 states--often create special problems for rural school districts. Land for Granted: The Effects of Acreage Policies on Rural Schools and Communities explains the kinds of policies in effect in various states, and outlines their impacts on small and rural school districts.  According to the report's author, Dr. Barbara Kent Lawrence, the trend over the past couple of decades has been to locate schools on larger and larger sites. This trend, she says, "puts pressure on existing small rural schools that want and need to renovate or expand." When state funding is contingent on meeting minimum acreage guidelines, "then small schools located on smaller sites may be forced to find other locations or consolidate in order to meet the needs of their district," Lawrence explains.
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