001: Terms Used

001: Terms Used

The terms listed below are used throughout this manual:  

  • "Biennium" refers to the two-year state budget period used for appropriations and grant funding
  • "[School] Board" refers to the local board of directors of a school district
  • "Capital Project" refers to a project involving the acquisition, construction, modernization, replacement or major renovation of school facilities
  • “District” refers to a local school district 
  • "Educational Specifications" refers to the document describing a district's education program requirements and how a facility is intended to support those needs
  • "Eligible Area" refers to the square footage or space recognized by OSPI for purposes of determining state funding assistance
  • "Housed Students" refers to students who can be accommodated within the school district's existing SCAP-recognized instructional space. See also "SCAP," "Unhoused Students," and "Overbuilt"
  • "Instructional Space" refers to space used directly to support educational programs and student learning activities
  • "Modernization" refers to the renovation or improvement of an existing school facility to extend its useful life, improve functionality, or address deficiencies
  • "New Construction" refers to the construction of a new school facility or addition that creates new instructional space
  • "Overbuilt" refers to a school district whose SCAP-recognized space exceeds the amount of space justified by enrollment and applicable state space allocation formulas. See also "SCAP," "Housed Students," and "Unhoused Students"
  • "Project Approval" refers to OSPI's authorization for a district to proceed with a project phase or receive state funding assistance
  • “OSPI” refers to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction 
  • “RCW” refers to the Revised Code of Washington.  
  • “Regional Coordinator” refers to an OSPI staff member who serves as a facilitator and compliance advisor, helping school districts navigate program requirements and funding processes, especially the School Construction Assistance Program
  • “SBE” refers to the State Board of Education 
  • "SCAP" refers to the School Construction Assistance Program, a state funding program that provides financial assistance for eligible school construction and modernization projects. 
  • "SFO" or "SF&O" refers to the OSPI's School Facilities and Organization office
  • "State Funding Assistance" refers to state financial participation in eligible school facility projects administered by OSPI
  • “Shall” or “must” indicates a mandatory or legal requirement 
  • "Study and Survey" refers to the districtwide planning process required for participation in certain state funding programs and used to identify long-range facility needs
  • "Unhoused Students" refers to students who cannot be accommodated within the school district's existing SCAP-recognized instructional space and therefore represent an unmet capacity need. See also "SCAP," "Unhoused Students," and "Overbuilt"
  • “WAC” refers to the Washington Administrative Code