INTERAGENCY COMMISSION ON SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

To aid the counties and Baltimore City with certain public school construction projects and capital improvements, the Interagency Committee on School Construction was established by the Board of Public Works as authorized by the General Assembly in 1971 (Chapter 624, Acts of 1971).

Subject to Board of Public Work's approval, the Committee supervised and provided funding for public school construction in Maryland (Code Education Article, sec. 5-301). In June 2018, the Committee was replaced by the Interagency Commission on School Construction as authorized by the General Assembly (Chapter 14, Acts of 2018; Code Education Article, secs. 5-301 through 5-321).

The Interagency Commission on School Construction functioned as an independent agency within the State Department of Education until July 1, 2023, when it became an independent unit of State government (Chapter 679, Acts of 2023). It develops and approves policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations to ensure that school construction funds are allocated to local jurisdictions fairly, independently, and on the basis of eligibility for the Commission’s funding programs.

[photo, Edgewater Elementary School, Edgewater, Maryland] For administration of the State Public School Construction Program, commonly known as the Capital Improvement Program, the Interagency Commission on School Construction is required to adopt rules, regulations, and procedures. It also approves the Program allocations paid to each county and Baltimore City (Code Education Article, sec. 5-301).


Edgewater Elementary School, Edgewater (Anne Arundel County), Maryland, August 2021. Photo courtesy of Anne Arundel Public Schools.

The Commission prepares projections of school construction and capital improvement needs, approves projects based on these needs, and provides associated financial aid to the counties and Baltimore City for these projects. The Commission also administers the Aging Schools Program, the Built to Learn Program, the Pass-Through Grant Program, the School Safety Grant Program (Chapter 14, Acts of 2018), and the Healthy School Facility Fund (Chapter 561, Acts of 2018). The Commission previously administered a number of funding programs that have since sunsetted, including various supplemental appropriations, the 2013 Energy Efficiency Initiative, the 2014 Air Conditioning Initiative, the 2014 Security Initiative, the Innovation Incentive Pilot Program, and the Qualified Zone Academy Bond. Additionally, the Commission oversees two funding programs for nonpublic schools, the Nonpublic Aging Schools Program and the Nonpublic Safety Improvements Program, when funding is appropriated.

Two facility assessment programs are conducted by the Commission: the Maintenance Effectiveness Assessment since 2007, and the Statewide Facilities Assessment since 2020.

Appointed by the Commission, the Executive Director works under the Commission's direction.

The Commission consists of nine members. Two members are appointed by the Governor; the Senate President and House Speaker each appoint two public members, and three members serve ex officio. The Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker jointly choose the Chair (Chapter 445, Acts of 2005; Chapter 14, Acts of 2018; Code Education Article, sec. 5-302).

Formerly located in the Nancy S. Grasmick State Education Building at 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, the Commission moved to 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, in January 2024.

ADMINISTRATION

Administration is responsible for Fiscal Services, Funding Programs, Information Technologies, and Records Management.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

RECORDS MANAGEMENT
Since October 1, 2017, the Interagency Committee on School Construction (now Interagency Commission on School Construction) has had a program for the continual, economical and efficient management of its records. The Commission's Records Officer develops and oversees the program, and serves as liaison to the Records Management Division of the Department of General Services, and to the State Archives (Chapter 539, Acts of 2017; Code State Government Article, secs. 10-608 through 10-611).

FIELD OPERATIONS

Under Field Operations are Assessment and Maintenance, and Capital Projects Management.

ASSESSMENT & MAINTENANCE

CAPITAL PROJECTS MANAGEMENT

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