Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 200 - Board of Education
Chapter 20 - Council on Elementary and Secondary Education
Subchapter 05 - General and School Operations
Part 4 - Rhode Island School Construction Regulations
Section 200-RICR-20-05-4.1 - Authority, Purpose, and Scope

A. This Part is promulgated by the Rhode Island Board of Education, Council on Elementary and Secondary Education (hereinafter the "Council"). The Council was established by R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-60-1 and has the authority to develop and promulgate these regulations pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 16-60-4(9) (iv), 16-7-35 through 16-7-47, 16-7-24, 16-7.1-2(b)(7), and 16-9-4.1. This Part intended to govern the process by which the Council performs its statutory functions of determining the necessity of school construction, establishing standards for design and construction of school buildings, approving projects for school housing aid reimbursement, and ensuring that school districts have adequate asset protection plans in place to maintain their school facilities. Proper exercise of this authority will ensure that approval for school construction will reflect a statewide perspective, establish statewide uniformity in the quality of school building, and meet the needs of school districts. The Council is also authorized to issue such supplemental policies, guidelines, guidance documents, and/or administrative procedures that may assist in the implementation of this Part.

B. The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (hereinafter "RIDE") has the authority to implement and administer this Part on behalf of the Council, including making recommendations to the Council on project approvals, disbursing school housing aid for approved projects, and monitoring compliance with the conditions of project approval set by the Council and requirements for asset protection and maintenance of facilities as set forth in this Part.

C. This Part applies to all new school construction and school renovations projects where the total cost exceeds five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). Multi-year capital improvement projects supported by capital reserve funds that exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) over the life of the multi-year cycle must be approved by the Council and shall be submitted using the approved capital improvement plan format available from RIDE on its website. Capital improvement projects with projected costs of less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) are required to obtain the Commissioner's approval and shall be submitted using the format detailed in the form provided by RIDE.