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Q. How do I determine if I have a site that qualifies for the grant?
A. A school site is considered eligible for the Overcrowding Relief Grant (ORG) if the pupil population density is equal to or greater than 175 percent of the California Department of Education (CDE) recommended site density based on 2005–2006 enrollment. The statute requires that the calculation to determine the density be reduced to take into account multistory construction and new construction projects apportioned by the State Allocation Board (SAB), including critically overcrowded school program projects. In order to determine if a school site is eligible, the CDE has created a form, the Overcrowding Relief Grant Eligibility Determination. Districts will need to complete and submit this form to the CDE for each school site in order to have a site deemed eligible for the ORG. The form will also determine the maximum ORG site specific pupil eligibility (described below).
Q. So if I have a site that is considered overcrowded, how many pupils housed at that site (based on 2005–2006 CBEDS enrollment) are eligible to be taken out of portables and placed in permanent classrooms?
A. Each eligible school site will be limited to the number of pupil grants that a district can request. The number of grants apportioned for each school site cannot exceed the lesser of the following:
- the number of pupils whose removal from the density calculation would reduce the density of the site to 150 percent of the CDE recommended population density; or
- the number of portables being replaced in the project multiplied by the applicable State loading standard i.e., K–6: 25; 7-12: 27; non-severe: 13; and severe: 9. Districts must build a number of permanent classrooms equivalent to the number of portable classrooms it will be replacing; or
- the number of pupils housed in portable classrooms, except for portables used for purposes of the Class Size Reduction Program.
The maximum number of pupils for each eligible school will be determined on the CDE Overcrowding Relief Grant Eligibility Determination form. In addition to a site-specific eligibility, each district will be limited to a district-wide (or high school attendance area/super high school attendance area, as applicable, depending on the district's new construction eligibility baseline filing basis) eligibility bank which serves as a cap for all the ORG projects in the district. The district-wide eligibility will be determined by the number of portables that were included in the initial new construction baseline determination (as identified in part on line 1 of part III of the form SAB 50-02) multiplied by the applicable State loading standard. The OPSC has created a new form, the Overcrowding Relief Grant District-wide Eligibility Determination (Form SAB 50-11) to be used to determine the district's maximum ORG district-wide eligibility. The eligibility determination will be a one-time determination and will only be adjusted (reduced) as pupil grants are requested.
Q. When my new construction eligibility was established, some of the portable classrooms within my district were excluded from the baseline. Does this mean I have ORG eligibility to replace those portables?
A. No. Only portables that were counted in the baseline are eligible for ORG funds. Please see the question and answer above for more information regarding ORG eligibility.
Q. What if my district does not have New Construction eligibility?
A. Since the district is not adding new classroom capacity to the district, it is not required to demonstrate new construction eligibility to participate in the ORG.
Q. How much is the grant?
A. The funding will be provided utilizing the School Facility Program new construction per pupil grant amount in effect at the time the application is funded by the SAB, and applicable additional and excessive cost hardship grants. Grants for site acquisition may also be requested to construct permanent classrooms at new school sites or additions to existing sites.
Q. What purposes can I use the ORG funds?
A. ORG funds may be used for those purposes pursuant to Education Code (EC) Section 17072.35 with the exception of the construction, acquisition or transportation of portable classrooms.
Q. What is considered to be a portable classroom?
A. The definition of a portable classroom, pursuant to EC Section 17070.15 (j), is a classroom building of one or more stories that is designed and constructed to be relocatable and transportable over public streets, and with respect to a single story portable classroom, is designed and constructed for relocation without the separation of the roof or floor from the building and when measured at the most exterior walls, has a floor area not in excess of 2,000 square feet.
Q. What do I have to submit to request ORG funding?
A. Submit the Form SAB 50-11 to the OPSC. Submit the Overcrowding Relief Grant Eligibility Determination to the CDE for each school site. Obtain all necessary approvals of the plans and specifications for each project, and for any additional acreage acquired. Submit the Application for Funding (Form SAB 50-04) to the OPSC with all supporting documentation (see the General Information section on the Form SAB 50-04 for more information) for each project.
Q. Can I use the portables as classrooms at other school sites?
A. Districts will be required to remove the replaced portable(s) from the eligible school site and from K–12 classroom use within six months of the date of occupancy of the replaced permanent classrooms. The portables may be utilized at non-eligible sites for non-K–12 classroom use, such as storage, pre-school, or adult education.
Q. Will demolition of the portables eligible to be replaced be an allowable expenditure even in cases where they do not lie in the foot print of the new permanent classrooms?
A. Yes. Since districts will be required to remove the replaced portable(s) from the eligible school site and from K-12 classroom use, districts may choose to dispose of those portables. Demolition costs may be requested as a New Construction Additional Grant for Site Development Costs.
Q. How will the funds made available for the ORG be distributed for apportionment by the SAB and when must I apply?
A. There will be a minimum of three funding cycles with the $1 billion allocated as follows:
- For the first funding cycle, up to a maximum of $500 million for all approved applications that are received by January 31, 2008.
- For the second funding cycle, up to a maximum of $300 million for all approved applications that are received by July 31, 2008, plus any remaining funds not apportioned during the previous funding cycle.
- For the third funding cycle, up to a maximum of $200 million for all approved applications that are received by January 30, 2009, plus any remaining funds not apportioned during the previous funding cycles.
- Should funds remain following the third funding cycle, those funds shall be pooled for a subsequent funding cycle.
Q. How will it be decided which applications will be funded?
A. Applications will be funded based on highest density in each of the three funding cycles. Any district that does not receive an ORG due to low school density and insufficient funds may request that its application remain with the OPSC for consideration in the following semi-annual funding cycle.
Q. I have ORG eligibility to replace three portables; however I would like to build 10 permanent classrooms. Can I combine the ORG with new construction and build the additional 7 classrooms with my new construction eligibility?
A. Districts may combine new construction and ORG to build a new school or an addition to an existing site; however the district must submit separate Applications for Funding as well as track and report all expenditures separately. Additionally the plans and specifications must be clearly delineated to illustrate the ORG project and the new construction project.
Q. Where can I get more information?
A. You may contact your OPSC project manager and CDE representative. |
