1. (a) For the purposes of this section, “special education student” means a student with a disability as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA).
2. (b) The maximum size of a school building that is eligible for building aid shall be the sum of the baseline square footage determined by (c) below, plus the special education square footage determined by (e) below, plus the concentration of poverty add-on in (g) below, plus the English language learner (ELL) add-on in (i) below.

3. (c) Subject to (d) below, for the purpose of determining the maximum building size eligible for building aid, the maximum allowable gross square footage (GSF) per student shall be limited to the following:

   Table 321-1 Baseline Gross Square Footage

   Design Capacity

   Elementary School

   GSF per Student

   Middle School

   GSF per Student

   High School

   GSF per Student

   100 students or less

   167

   180

   200

   101-150

   161

   180

   200

   151-200

   156

   176

   200

   201-250

   152

   172

   198

   251-300

   149

   169

   195

   301-350

   147

   167

   193

   351-400

   146

   166

   192

   401-450

   145

   165

   191

   451-500

   144

   164

   190

   501-550

   143

   163

   189

   551-600

   142

   162

   188

   601-650

   141

   161

   187

   651-700

   140

   160

   186

   701-750

   139

   159

   185

   751-800

   138

   158

   184

   More than 800 students

   137

   157

   183

4. (d) Individual buildings that house combinations of 2 or more levels shall be subject to the limits for the highest level to be educated in the building.

5. (e) The special education add-on, in square feet (sf), shall be based on Table 321-2 below:

   Table 321-2 Special Education Add-On

   Special Education Students

   Grades K-12

   1-24 students

   1,200 sf

   25 or more students

   50 sf per student

6. (f) The number of special education students for (e) above shall be averaged over the previous 5 years and rounded up to the nearest whole number.

7. (g) The concentration of poverty add-on, in sf, shall be based on Table 321-3 below:

   Table 321-3 Concentration of Poverty Add-On

   Free or Reduced Cost Meal Rate

   <600 students

   600-900 students

   >900 students

   Below 55%

   0 sf

   0 sf

   0 sf

   55%

   1,000 sf

   1,500 sf

   2,000 sf

   60%

   1,300 sf

   1,800 sf

   2,300 sf

   65%

   1,600 sf

   2,100 sf

   2,600 sf

   70%

   1,900 sf

   2,400 sf

   2,900 sf

   75%

   2,200 sf

   2,700 sf

   3,200 sf

   80% or more

   2,500 sf

   3,000 sf

   3,500 sf

8. (h) The free or reduced cost meals rate for (g) above shall be averaged over the previous 5 years and the square footage add-on for rates that fall between the published values shall be scaled proportionally and rounded up to the nearest square foot.

9. (i) The ELL add-on, in sf, shall be based on Table 321-4 below:

   Table 321-4 ELL Add-On

   ELL Rate

   <600 students

   600-900 students

   >900 students

   Below 10%

   0 sf

   0

   0

   10%

   500 sf

   1,000 sf

   1,500 sf

   20%

   750 sf

   1,250 sf

   1,750 sf

   30%

   1,000 sf

   1,500 sf

   2,000 sf

   40% or more

   1,250 sf

   1,750 sf

   2,250 sf

10. (j) The ELL rate for (i) above shall be averaged over the previous 5 years, and the square footage add-on for rates that fall between the published values shall be scaled proportionally and rounded up to the nearest square foot.

11. (k) For the purposes of determining the maximum size of a school building that is eligible for building aid, the following shall apply:

    1. (1) The size of a school building is measured as a gross area from the outside face or exterior walls, and shall include all enclosed areas including existing spaces, except as specified in (2) below;
    2. (2) For renovations, existing areas open to below and areas dedicated to mechanical systems shall not be included in the size of the school building; and
    3. (3) For new construction, areas open to below, except for gymnasiums, auditoriums, and other areas which require open areas to function as its intended use shall be included in the calculation of the maximum building size.
12. (l) Selected areas within a school building may be constructed in a size large enough to accommodate use of the building for community purposes other than education. School building aid, however, shall be limited to the maximum allowable size and maximum allowable construction cost limits as described in Ed 321.09 and Ed 321.22.
13. (m) Required educational space shall not be eliminated or reduced in order to provide community use space within the maximum size and cost limits.
14. (n) The GSF baselines shall be used for determining the maximum building size eligible for building aid.
15. (o) A school board or board of trustees may challenge the baselines for a given project by submitting a waiver request in accordance with Ed 321.34 at least 90 days prior to submitting a building aid application.
16. (p) Projects funded prior to fiscal year 2026 shall adhere to the maximum eligible building size standard in effect at the time of application.

Source. #8265, eff 1-22-05; ss by #10363, eff 6-15-13; ss by #13054, eff 6-12-20; ss by #14023, eff 7-12-24 (formerly Ed 321.06); ss by #14215, eff 3-14-25