The Pennsylvania Department of Education is pleased to offer school districts the opportunity to participate in the federal Qualified School Construction Bond Program (QSCB) and Qualified Zone Academy Bond Program (QZAB), which were authorized through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act. The U. S. Department of Treasury has authorized the allocation of QSCB and QZAB authority to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Education will administer the programs and make allocations to school districts that meet qualifying criteria. Allocations will be awarded on a competitive basis. The bonds will be issued through the State Public School Building Authority.
QSCB
- Qualifier: A. (1) The school district's 2007-2008 equalized millage must be greater than or equal to 19.0 or the school district must be in a county designated distressed for 2010 by the Appalachian Regional Commission, and (2) its October 2008 Free and Reduced Lunch percentage must be greater than or equal to 45 percent; or B. the school district's average daily membership must have increased between 2002-2003 and 2007-2008 by more than 500 or by more than 10 percent.
- Use of Funds: 100 percent of available project proceeds must be used for the construction, rehabilitation, or repair of public school facilities, equipment for these facilities, or related site acquisition.
QZAB
- Qualifier (1st Solicitation): (1) The school district's 2007-2008 equalized millage must be greater than or equal to 19.0 or the school district must be in a county designated distressed for 2010 by the Appalachian Regional Commission and (2) its October 2008 Free and Reduced Lunch percentage must be greater than or equal to 45 percent.
- Qualifier (2nd Solicitation): As of the date of issuance of the bonds, there is a reasonable expectation that at least 35 percent of the students attending the project school building will be eligible for free- or reduced-cost lunches under the school lunch program established under the National School Lunch Act.
- Requirements: (1) The school district must enter into a partnership with a private entity or entities to design a board-approved program with the goal of enhancing the academic curriculum, increasing graduation and employment rates, and preparing students for college and the workforce. (2) The partner must make qualified contributions having a present value (as of the date of issuance of the bond issue) of not less than 10 percent of the proceeds of the bond issue.
- Use of Funds: 100 percent of available project proceeds must be used for renovation, repair or rehabilitation of existing public school facilities or for equipment which supports the academic program being proposed. Funds may also be used for development of educational course materials, if permitted under the Local Government Unit Debt Act.
The Department strongly urges school districts to consider projects that will help make schools green and sustainable by improving energy performance or seeking to obtain LEED or Green Globes certification. If assistance is needed in developing this proposal, consulting services may be available at no charge to the school district. These services are limited to projects being considered in existing or proposed Title I schools identified for School Improvement or Corrective Action.
The application deadline for qualifying school districts for QSCB and QZAB (1st Solicitation) was April 1, 2010. The application for qualifying school districts for QZAB (2nd Solicitation) is August 20, 2010. Click on the links below to access applications and detailed guildelines regarding the QSCB and QZAB programs.
Click on the links below to access applications and detailed guidelines regarding the QSCB and QZAB programs.
