Understanding the ASAPP: A New Opportunity for Ohio School Districts

The Ohio General Assembly recently created the Aging School Accelerator Pilot Program (“ASAPP”), a new school facilities funding initiative administered by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (“OFCC”). The program is designed to provide qualifying school districts with aging facilities access to state-assisted construction funding of at least 40% of project costs. While OFCC has not yet released final program guidelines and implementation details, the legislation establishes a framework that could create a significant opportunity for qualifying districts.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

A school district must meet all of the following criteria to qualify for ASAPP under Ohio Revised Code Section 3318.33(A):

• Have at least one school building used primarily for classroom instruction that is 100 years old or older, or contains a significant portion of a structure that is 100 years old or older;
• Have never received assistance through the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program (“CFAP”), or have not completed all phases of a previously approved CFAP project;
• Rank in the lowest 25% statewide for operating expenditures per pupil in Fiscal Year 2025; and
• Qualify to serve all students in a single school building under OFCC policies.

What Assistance Is Available?

Ohio Revised Code Section 3318.33(C) requires OFCC to reserve funding for qualifying districts and provide financial assistance for approved classroom facilities projects. Importantly, the statute provides that the state share of project costs will be at least 40%, which could provide substantial financial support to districts facing significant facility needs.

Participating districts also will be required to establish a maintenance set-aside, with the amount, duration, and administration to be determined by OFCC. The purpose of the set-aside is to help ensure the long-term upkeep of completed facilities.

Why the Program Matters?

Many Ohio school districts continue to educate students in century-old buildings while facing significant financial constraints that make major renovation or replacement projects difficult. ASAPP recognizes these challenges and creates a pathway to state assistance for certain districts with aging facilities and limited financial resources.

In addition, the availability of state funding may improve the affordability of local facility projects and help districts secure voter approval of the local funding necessary to move those projects forward. As a result, the program has the potential to accelerate facility improvements for some of Ohio's oldest and most financially constrained school districts.

Looking Ahead

Although the program has been established by statute, OFCC has not yet adopted the guidelines and procedures necessary to implement ASAPP. As a result, important details regarding project eligibility, application procedures, project scope, funding availability, and timelines remain uncertain.

School districts that appear to meet the statutory eligibility criteria should closely monitor future OFCC guidance and begin evaluating whether participation may align with their long-term facilities planning objectives.

For eligible districts, ASAPP may represent a unique opportunity to leverage state funding and address critical facility needs that have existed for generations.