Purpose:
This Basic Education Circular concerns the closing, repurposing, or reconfiguring of school buildings receiving Commonwealth reimbursement for debt service or authority rental payments.
- In accordance with State Board of Education Regulations, Section 349.28, school districts are required to notify the Department of Education prior to closing, re-purposing, and/or reconfiguring a school building for educational use.
- The Department may authorize the continuation of a school construction reimbursement subsidy if it is demonstrated that at least 50% of the closed school building's architectural area has been repurposed for PK-12 public school use, public charter school use, IU use, and/or for school district administration office use. Absent the Department's authorization, a school construction reimbursement subsidy will cease following the amortization payment which next falls due after the school building is closed to educational use.
References
Purdon's Statutes
24 P.S. §7-780
State Board of Education Regulations
Bureau/Office Contact
Division of School Facilities
Bureau of Budget and Fiscal Management
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Forum Building
607 South Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-5993
E-mail: RA-SchoolFacilities@pa.gov