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