The Overcrowding Relief Grant (ORG) The State Allocation Board & The Office of Public School Construction Presented by Lina Lyda

Overview Falls under the provisions of the School Facility Program (SFP) Allows for the creation of new school sites Must result in a reduction of the number of portable classrooms in the district Requires the district to remove the replaced portables from K-12 classroom use and from any ORG eligible school sites (doesn’t preclude use of portables as administration, preschool, storage, etc.) Cannot be used to replace any portables funded under the Class Size Reduction Program (Chapter 6.10 of the Ed. Code)

Eligibility Criteria Does not require new construction eligibility Does not result in reduction to SFP New Construction eligibility Based upon district-wide and site-specific eligibility

Getting Started Districts that are interested in the ORG should first begin the process by submitting their district-wide eligibility form (the Overcrowding Relief Grant Pupil Eligibility Determination, Form SAB 50-11) Districts should also work with the CDE to determine which school sites in their district will qualify for the ORG.

District-wide Eligibility Established on a district-wide or High School Attendance Area (HSAA) basis Requires submittal of Forms SAB 50-01, 50-02, and (if the district has not established SFP new construction eligibility) Based on a district-wide or HSAA inventory of portable classrooms that were present at the time SFP eligibility was established Determined on the Form SAB 50-11

Form SAB Section I Captures information from the Form SAB that was used to establish the district/HSAA new construction eligibility

Form SAB (continued…) Section II Establishes the total District-wide or HSAA ORG eligibility; based upon the total portables identified in Section I multiplied by the State loading standard

Site Specific Eligibility School sites are eligible if the pupil population density is 175% of that recommended by the CDE (based upon 2005/2006 CBEDS) The density calculation must take into account: –multistory construction, and –approved new construction projects, unless the district can prove that the new construction projects do not relieve overcrowding at the site (i.e., the new construction projects that address multi-track or bussing issues) Must be reduced by a prorated number of Class-Size Reduction (CSR) portables at sites that serve grades K-3 Will be determined on the CDE ORG Pupil Adjustment form and the ORG Eligibility Determination form

Class-Size Reduction Prorate Created to simplify the certifications made by the district regarding the current placement of CSR portables Prorate is reduced from all school sites that serve grades K-3, regardless of ORG eligibility The total district-wide/HSAA reductions cannot exceed the capacity the CSR portables in the district (number of CSR portables x 25 pupils)

Class-Size Reduction Prorate Example Assume that the district received funding under the CSR program for 1,250 K-3 classrooms. The CSR prorate would be calculated accordingly: 1.Determine the number of K-3 portables funded = 1,250 2.Determine the total number of schools in the district/HSAA that serve grades K-3 (could be “span” schools) = Divide line (1) by line (2), and round up to the nearest whole number: 1,250 divided by 340 = 3.676, or 4 4.Multiply the amount determined in (3) by the K-6 State loading standard, or 25: 5.4 x 25 = 100 The District would have to reduce the eligible pupils for each school site that serves grades K-3 by 100 pupil grants.

Form SAB (continued) Section III Determines the number of Class-Size Reduction portables that should be reduced from schools serving K-3 students

Funding Based upon the current new construction per-pupil grant for each grade level Does not have to be requested according to the type of school/project; similar to a “use of grants” Site acquisition funding available, based on the eligible pupil grants, if the district will be adding acreage or buying a new site and moving the classrooms there May request any NC grants that the project qualifies for (i.e., site development, excessive cost hardship grants, etc.) May not be used toward the construction, acquisition, or transportation of portable classrooms (may be used toward demolition) Will be funded in order of density at each funding cycle (most dense projects will be funded first)

Funding Limitations Projects are limited in the amount of pupil grants that may be requested: –By the amount of pupil grants that will reduce the site density to 150% of the CDE recommended density –The capacity of portables being replaced in the project (determined according to type of project and State loading standard) –The district-wide available eligibility –The site specific available eligibility

Components of the Funding Application The Application for Funding (Form SAB 50-04) –Indicating the pupil grant request, type of project, ORG school site(s), number of classrooms, site acquisition, Additional Grant requests, Excessive Cost Hardship Grant requests, overcrowding relief narrative, certifications DSA-Approved plans & specs Cost Estimate Real Estate documentation CDE Site/Plan Approvals CDE Eligibility documents Financial Hardship Approval

Application Processing OPSC Staff receive a complete application packet Requests additional information, if necessary, through 15-day and 4-day letters Counsels district to maximize funding Processes application to SAB for approval according to the funding cycles Adjusts the modernization eligibility, if necessary

Funding Cycles Semi-annual apportionments; with highest density projects funded first 3 apportionments, with the possibility for a 4 th apportionment if funds remain Each funding cycle will roll over any remaining funds, which will become available at the next funding cycle. Application Filing Deadlines Funds to be Allocated January 31, 2008 $500 Million July 31, 2008 $300 Million January 30, 2009 $200 Million

Other Considerations No 60% Commensurate requirement Financial Hardship –No separate design or site apportionments –Districts may set aside design/site funds or acquire bridge financing No Environmental Hardships Certifications on the Form SAB Audits (Form SAB 50-06) Portable removal (within 6 months of occupancy) Signing contracts (grandfathering provision) Savings to be captured at close-out

Questions…