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Capital Improvement Project Application & Support

Overview

The department annually evaluates capital improvement project (CIP) grant applications that are submitted by school districts on or before September 1. Applications are ranked according to the criteria in AS 14.11 and 4 AAC 31, with initial lists released on November 5. Final lists are released after any appeals to reconsideration are finalized.

To be eligible for funding, districts must have a six-year plan, a fixed asset inventory system, adequate property loss insurance, and a preventive maintenance and facility management program certified by the department.

In 2015, the legislature placed a moratorium on new voter-approved bonds participating in the debt reimbursement program, the moratorium was extended in 2020 until July 1, 2025.

CIP Application Materials

Applications and all supporting documents must be post-marked by September 1 in order to be considered during the CIP application evaluation. Application materials for the September deadline are typically adopted by the Bond Reimbursement and Grant Review Committee in April and released by the department in early May.

Six-Year Plan is a requirement for all districts submitting CIP applications. The plan may contain projects not being submitted for CIP review; the additional projects do not affect the application’s “district ranking” score and the projects are used by the department to compile the statewide six-year plan.

Request for re-use of score is available to districts that previously had an application ranked by the department. Any project ranked in the prior year may submit a re-use request if that project continues to be listed in the first year of the district’s six-year plan. Additionally, projects that had achieved substantial completion at the time of the original application may continue to request a reuse of score for an additional five years.

Supplemental: CIP Rating Materials are informative as to how CIP applications are scored.

School District PM Certification Report

Preventive Maintenance State-of-the-State Report (EED Maintenance Assessment and Related Data) (pdf)

Support Materials

The below materials may be used to plan particular aspects of a project, assist completion of the CIP application for certain projects, and inform formula-driven application scoring. To provide more guided assistance to the application, the department publications have been compiled into a list that references the application question where the material provides the most context; however, each publication may be applicable to more than one question or circumstance.

If there is a discrepancy between information on this page and the CIP application materials, the CIP application materials take precedence.

Previous years’ CIP priority lists.

Current CIP Priority Lists

Workshop

Each year the department holds a workshop on the CIP application and scoring process, typically in early May. The purpose is to present the application, highlight any changes from year to year, and answer specific questions posed by attendees.

FY2026 CIP Workshop Presentations

April 26, 2024 - Anchorage

All Projects

School Facilities Within Scope

Upon receipt of a grant or debt reimbursement application, the department reviews the age and existing gross square footage of facilities within the project scope utilizing the information in the school facility database. A public version is available to assist in completing a CIP application.

Scope of Work

The department reviews identified project scope to ensure it conforms to criteria in statute, including adopted construction standards.

Complete or Partially Completed Project

Projects that are fully or partially complete must have followed procurement requirements in order to be eligible for reimbursement. If a district anticipates it will seek reimbursement for a project, it should request department approval prior to pursuing any alternative procurement methods.

Condition/Component Survey

All projects benefit from an evaluation of current conditions of facility systems or the specific component being addressed prior to development of a specific project.

Planning/Design Team

Most projects require an architect or engineer design professional, and some districts may choose to hire a construction manager.

Cost Estimate

Program Demand Cost Model 23rd Edition, 2024 version (includes geographic area cost factors, published as of July 2023) - A workbook for conceptual construction cost estimating of new school construction and renovation projects.

Other Options

Districts should perform an analysis of life cycle costs, cost benefits, or other quantifiable returns for multiple project solutions to determine that which is in the best interest of the district and the state.

Participating Share

Recipients of grants under AS 14.11 are required to contribute a percentage of the grant as a local participating share. Per AS 14.11.008, municipal school district participating shares are determined by the full value of a district’s real and personal property divided by the average daily membership. The share percentages are calculated annually during the CIP review process in November.

District Preventive Maintenance and Facility Management

Projects Adding or Replacing Space

Attendance Area for Space Eligibility

Schools are grouped in attendance areas, which are assigned based on the criteria and process outlined in 4 AAC 31.016. The student population in the attendance area, as established by the average daily membership (ADM), determines the amount of new space a school may be eligible for. See also the “Allowable Square Footage & Capacity” below.

Unhoused students: Allowable Square Footage & Capacity

Download the MS Excel workbook to help determine the number of unhoused students and allowable square footage for a school’s given student populations. Revised for student population data from the 2023-2024 school year for the FY2026 CIP application process.

For an alternate student population estimate method based on cohort survival ratio, please contact Facilities staff.

Planning/Concept Design

Planning documents assist districts in constructing compliant and beneficial educational spaces.

Acquisition of Additional Land

Selecting a site for a school addition or new facility is a serious public policy decision and has a lasting impact; the handbook discusses the basic considerations for an adequate site selection process that conforms to requirements for department approval.