Preschool / Kindergarten (Pre-K/K) Classroom
Planning Rationale
CPS has recently included full day preschool (Pre-K) for all 4 year olds as a standard grade level for all students in the district. If dictated by a new elementary school program, Pre-K/K classrooms shall follow the guidance in this section. All classrooms shall follow the Classroom layout design considerations with additional requirements for Pre-K facility types outlined in Volume 2.
Design Considerations
Location
The Pre-K/K classrooms shall be located on the first floor, near the main office or other entrance used primarily for Pre-K for parent drop off. The classrooms shall be near the other primary grade spaces and shall be located to minimize the need to navigate hallways and areas used by older students. Ideally, these classrooms shall in close proximity near the outdoor playground. The number of Pre-K/K classrooms shall typically be equivalent to the number provided for each of the other grade levels.
Classroom Layout
The classroom size is larger than the typical classroom to allow for flexibility, mobility, learning stations, classroom sink, associated toilet room and storage room. The primary teaching wall shall be located along a long wall with the teacher station having site lines to the room entrance. A secondary teaching wall shall be provided.
Pre-K/K classrooms use furniture to create several stations for different types of learning with many activities occurring on rugs and at low tables. The classroom shall be laid out to create transition and wet zones.
- Transition Zone: Furniture cubbies shall be located near the entrance. This serves as a drop off location for students and transition space into the classroom.
- Wet Zone: Accommodates student and teacher sinks for hand washing within casework that is two heights. This area shall also feature an accessible drinking fountain at child height.
Toilet Room
Toilet Room: Shall be accessed directly off the classroom and fully accessible. CPS has established that Pre-K/K Toilet Rooms follow the ADA 2010 Guidelines for fixture heights for ages 5-6. Water closets shall be wall mounted at 15” AFF and located 12” from the wall. The use of wall mounted toilet fixtures enables transfer from a wheelchair to water closets in addition to providing easier cleaning under and around the fixture.
Storage
Shall be located within the classroom to accommodate cot storage and other supplies.
Early Learning Education Facilities
In addition to Pre-K classrooms in elementary schools, Pre-K classrooms can also be housed in standalone early learning education facilities. The Pre-K classroom design considerations remain the same, but there are additional design considerations for early learning education facilities including Annexes, Branches and Early Learning Centers. Please see Volume 2 Section 2.2.1 Early Learning Education for information.
Grades 1-8 Classroom
Planning Rationale
Students from grades 1st through 8th grade shall utilize standard homeroom classrooms to learn and receive instruction from their teachers.
Design Considerations
Location
Classrooms shall follow all code requirements and shall not be located at the basement level areas with a floor level 2’-0” or more below grade. For grades 1-2, classrooms shall typically be located on the first floor. If not possible to locate these classrooms on the first/ground level, they can be located on the second floor but shall require a dedicated stairwell. Grades 3-5 typically occupy the second floor and grades 6-8 typically occupy the upper floors.
Classroom Layout
Classrooms shall have primary and secondary teaching walls, a teacher’s station, mobile laptop/tablet charging cart, and furniture based storage and bookcases.
- The Primary Teaching Wall: Located adjacent to the main classroom entry and perpendicular to exterior walls to reduce glare from windows.
- The Primary Teaching Wall includes a main marker board with tack surface located on both sides of the marker board. Tack strips to be located above marker board.
- Infrastructure for one or more of the following possibilities that are supplied by the school: short throw projector, interactive whiteboard, smartTV (centered above marker board)
- Clock (centered above marker board)
- Wall mounted intercom station located at the Teacher’s Station
- Teacher’s Station: shall be located at the Primary Teaching Wall near the window/exterior wall with a direct line of sight of the entry door and student desks. Teacher’s Station to be mobile and comprised of three parts including a desk, box/file pedestal and lectern.
- The Secondary Teaching Wall includes an option of a traditional marker board and tack surface configuration OR
- (3) frameless vertical marker boards
- The Secondary Teaching Wall: Located opposite the Primary Teaching Wall.
- Student Desks: Individual desks and chairs to be arranged to provide clear sight lines to Primary Teaching Wall.
- Classroom Entry Wall:
- All exit doors shall swing out into the corridor and to be recessed so as not to infringe on corridor traffic.
- Furniture based elements are located along this wall including but not limited to wardrobe, cabinets, bookcases, and mobile laptop/tablet charging chart.
- IT Concentrator Enclosures serving classrooms are to be located in an adjoining storage, prep or workroom as the first location preference. If such space is not available then placement of the enclosure in a classroom is an acceptable alternative. The enclosure would be placed on the classroom entry wall next to the door alcove. Refer to Chapter 9.0 for additional information.
- Window/Exterior Wall:
- Vertical Tack Panels 12” wide; mounted between windows on window wall when space allows.
- All classrooms shall have equal access to natural light and views to the exterior.
- Every operable window shall be accessible. A minimum of 2 operable/accessible to be provided for each classroom.
- Window shades with 3-5% openness shall be provided at every window.
Finishes
- Walls: Within the classrooms are to be painted a neutral color (3 walls) with one wall painted an accent color. If the primary teaching wall color is the accent wall, it shall not be a saturated color or be in high contrast to the marker board writing surface to avoid student eye strain. Refer to 2.3.1 Standard Finishes.
- Floors: (3) color random pattern throughout for long-term maintenance and replacement. The random pattern should provide some visual stimulation and help mask soiling. Refer to 2.3.1 Standard Finishes.
- Ceilings: Acoustical Ceiling Tile (NRC 0.7) 2’-0” x 2’-0” ceiling tile in grid. See 2.3.1 Standard Finishes.
Cluster Classrooms
Cluster classrooms are rooms required to be inclusive for students with special needs. No differences between standard classrooms and cluster classrooms shall be made. Universal design removes barriers and allows for spaces that can be used by everyone.
Pull-out Rooms
Pull-out rooms are considered on a case by case basis when planning new schools and are identified in the approved program for new construction. Pull-out rooms are placed between standard classroom spaces and are spaced throughout the building. Pull-out classrooms are used in a variety of ways from one on one teaching to small group learning.
- Pullout rooms shall include a primary teaching wall and secondary teaching wall if space permits.
- These rooms shall be accessed from corridor and both adjacent classrooms for a total of 3 doors.
- When provided, visibility between the classroom and the pull-out room shall be enabled through installation of vision panels in demising partitions and doors.