DAS recently adopted revised regulations for the school building project grant program, effective for applications filed on and after March 18, 2026 (except as noted below).
More information about the proposal and process (including the notice of intent, as well as public comments received and the agency’s response) can be found in the Regulation Making Record for PR2024-046 on the Secretary of the State’s eRegulations portal.
The revised regulations contain three substantive changes that districts should be mindful of when considering grant applications:
Expanded Eligibility for Outdoor Athletic Facility Expenses
First, in response to several public comments the agency received, “athletic facility lighting, athletic facility parking, [and] artificial turf” are now eligible for reimbursement. Please note these expenses must be part of a renovation, alteration or new construction project in order to qualify for reimbursement, and these expenses will be considered “outdoor athletic facilities” subject to limited reimbursement at ½ the reimbursement rate for the project.
Revised Approach for Consideration of Early Childhood and Special Education Programming Space in the Space Standard Calculation
Second, also in response to public comments related to the space standards, the former provision allowing the Commissioner to waive the space standards if a project exceeds the standards “solely as a result of extraordinary programmatic needs” has been replaced with a provision that sets forth more specific criteria for review. Under § 10-287c-29 in the new regulations, the Commissioner can exclude space for early childhood and special education programming from the space standard calculation upon request if the need for such space is supported by the educational specifications and enrollment projections for the project.
The new regulations do not otherwise change the existing space standards, and projects that qualify as renovations under C.G.S. § 10-282 are still eligible for exemption from the space standards regardless of the use of space. See Form DAS-058 for more information on space standards compliance (note that this form will be updated for applications filed on and after March 18, 2026 to address the new provision for early childhood and special education programming space).
Establishment of Allowable Construction Cost Per Square Foot
Finally, as directed by C.G.S. § 10-284(a)(5), the new regulations establish an allowable cost per square foot. Construction costs that exceed the allowable cost per square foot as calculated under the new regulations are ineligible for reimbursement. Please note:
- “Construction costs” are specifically defined in the new regulations as “the costs for major group elements A through F as classified in the UNIFORMAT II Elemental Classification for Building Specifications, Cost Estimating, and Cost Analysis, including costs for general conditions, general requirements, overhead and profit associated with such elements”.
- Construction costs do not include:
- Sitework and other work beyond 5’ of the building footprint
- Full building and structure demolition
- Loose furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E)
- Design and other consultant fees
- Testing, inspection, and permit fees
- Land acquisition costs
- Reimbursement for these costs is not impacted by the new limit on construction costs.
- This provision applies to applications filed on and after July 1, 2026.
