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    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

     

    Construction or Renovation of a Facility

    A charter school may construct or renovate a school facility in accordance with School Code Sections 24 P.S. 17-1715-A and 24 P.S. 17-1722-A.

    Construction or renovation​​ of a charter school facility is not eligible for Commonwealth reimbursement pursuant to School Code Section 24 P.S. 25-2574.

    A charter school may lease property from public or private entities. In the event that a facility is being constructed or renovated so that it can be leased to a charter school, please note that said construction or renovation work may be subject to certain School Code requirements.

    Prior to undertaking a project, charter schools are advised to contact the Department of Education's Division of School Facilities, other state agencies such as the Departments of Labor and Industry, Transportation, and Environmental Protection, as well as county and municipal agencies having jurisdiction over school construction, to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Additional information can be obtained via the following link (See 'Charter School Facilities' section):

    Basic Education Circular 24 P.S. §17-1701-A, Charter Schools

    Questions regarding this program can be directed to the Department's Bureau of Budget and Fiscal Management, Division of School Facilities, at 717-787-5993 or by email at RA-EDSFReimbursement@pa.gov.​

    ​​Lease of a ​​​Facility

    School Code Section 24 P.S. 25-2574.3 provides Commonwealth reimbursement for leases of buildings or portions of buildings for charter school use, which have been approved by the Secretary of Education on or after July 1, 2001.

    The Commonwealth's annual reimbursable amount for leases of buildings or portions of buildings for charter school use is the lesser of (i) the annual rental payable under the provisions of the approved lease agreement, or (ii) the product of the charter school facility's enrollment times a legislated dollar amount based on the type of school. Commonwealth subsidy equals the approved annual reimbursable amount multiplied by the aid ratio for a charter school.

    Further guidance on the charter school facility lease reimbursement program is available from the Department's Bureau of Budget and Fiscal Management, Division of School Facilities, which is responsible for administering the program.

    ​​​Facility Lease​​ Reimbursement

    PDE is pleased to announce that the new online application for electronically submitting the PDE-418's and PDE-419's through the Consolidated Financial Reporting System (CFRS) is open. Please note that any paper PDE-418 or PDE-419 applications that are received in the mail will no longer be processed.

    Conditions Allowing Relocatable Structures, Trailers, and Modularized Construction to be Considered "Permanent" and Eligible for Charter School Lease Reimbursement

    All of the following conditions must be met in order for relocatable structures, trailers, and modularized construction to be considered "permanent" and thus eligible for charter school lease reimbursement: 

    1. Each classroom must contain at least 660 square feet of scheduled area.
    2. Classroom ceiling heights must be at least eight feet six inches.
    3. All door and side light windows must be of safety glass.
    4. Lighting must meet or exceed current IES (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) standards.
    5. Electrical main disconnects and circuit panels must be lockable.
    6. Classroom HVAC must meet or exceed current ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) standards.
    7. The relocatable structure, trailer, or modularized construction must be physically connected to the existing (or new) permanently constructed main building without going outside.
    8. All structural members, as well as floor and roof systems, must be constructed of steel and concrete.
    9. Foundation walls must be constructed with concrete, poured concrete piers, beams, or other supports providing adequate load-bearing capabilities, that meet or exceed current ACI (American Concrete Institute), AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) standards, or other generally acceptable standards.
    10. Classrooms must be affixed to a permanent foundation.
    11. All work performed on the facility must be in compliance with applicable Federal, State, and Local Codes and requirements, applicable requirements of the Public School Code of 1949 as amended, and applicable PDE guidelines.