Regulations and Guidance

Washington state regulations related to school construction and maintenance.

Revised Code of Washington (RCW)

• RCW 28A.315 - Organization and Reorganization of School Districts
• RCW 28A.335 - School Districts' Property
• RCW 28A.525 - Bond Issues (State School Construction Bonds)
• RCW 28A.530 - District Bonds for Land, Buildings, and Equipment
• RCW 28A.540 - Capital Fund Aid by Nonhigh Districts
• RCW 39.04 - Public Works
• RCW 39.35D - High-Performance Public Buildings
• RCW 39.80 - Contracts for Architectural and Engineering Services

Washington Administrative Code (WACs)

• WAC 392-340 - School District Organization
• WAC 392-341 - State Assistance in Providing School Plant Facilities-Preliminary Provisions
• WAC 392-342 - State Assistance in Providing School Plant Facilities-Educational Specifications and Site Selection
• WAC 392-343 - State Assistance in Providing School Plant Facilities-Basic State Support
• WAC 392-344 - State Assistance in Providing School Plant Facilities- Procedural Regulations
• WAC 392-345- State Assistance in Providing School Plant Facilities- Interdistrict Cooperation in Financing School Plant Facilities
• WAC 392-346 - State Assistance in Providing School Plant Facilities-Interdistrict Transportation Cooperatives
• WAC 392-347 - State Assistance in Providing School Plant Facilities-Modernization
• WAC 392-348 - Secondary Education New Secondary Program or New Grades Nine through Twelve
• WAC 392-349 - Small School Plants - Remote and Necessary Schools
• WAC 194-50 - Washington State Department of Commerce Adoption and Amendment of ASHRAE Standard 100, 2018
  • Bulletin 056-22 Clean Buildings Bill Compliance
  • Bulletin 018-23 Clean Buildings Performance Standard Expansion Bill UPDATE

Alternative Public Works

The 2007 legislature approved RCW 39.10 relating to public works. It significantly changed the availability to utilize alternative public works procedures for all public entities, including school districts, and changed the way these procedures are to be implemented.

All school districts who are allowed to proceed using the alternative public works procedures are advised to carefully review SHB 1506, and should work closely with their OSPI Regional Coordinator.

Application Process

A school district must have approval before proceeding with the use of an alternative public works method. The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB) is responsible for oversight of alternative public works.

The Project Review Committee of CPARB reviews and approves public works projects using the design-build and GC/CM contracting procedures authorized in RCW 39.10.300 and 39.10.340 and will certify public bodies.

The following is a description of the three ways a district can have approval.

The Project Review Committee will:

• Certify, or recertify, public bodies for a period of three years to use the design-build or general contractor/construction manager for projects with a total project cost of $10 million or more.
  OR
• Review and approve the use of the design-build or general contractor/construction manager contracting procedures on a project-by-project basis for public bodies that are not certified under section 270 of this act.
  OR
• Review and approve the use of the general contractor/construction manager contracting procedure by certified public bodies for projects with a total project cost under $10 million.

School districts may apply through the CPARB website. The Application for Project Approval is found here under Project Review Committee - Project Approval Forms.

State Assistance Funding Procedures

All school districts seeking state assistance for projects using alternative public works must follow the D-Form procedures. D-Form procedures are modified for projects utilizing GC/CM.

At Form D-5, school districts must demonstrate certification approval for utilizing GC/CM (by the Project Review Committee).

OSPI preliminary approval is necessary for all GC/CM projects and for all design-build projects.