Science educators believe that students construct their knowledge of the natural world best in safe, secure, and stimulating learning environments. In order to achieve these goals, teachers, researchers, and planners must become advocates for the school facilities in which they work. The program standards of the National Science Education Standards (NSES) provide a strong foundation for advocating improvements in school science. The information in the chapters that follow is intended to empower teachers, schools, and communities to meet the challenge set by the National Science Education Standards.