Core Program Statement of Interest Process Overview
A vote of the MSBA Board of Directors to invite a City, Town, or Regional School District (“District”) into the Eligibility Period is based on a review of the District’s Statement of Interest (“SOI”), staff due diligence, and a final recommendation.
During the due diligence phase, MSBA staff rely on many different data sources, such as the SOI and accompanying documents, the MSBA’s project management system, the MSBA’s enrollment tool, the MSBA’s 2025 School Survey, and information from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (“DESE”). There are many factors that can impact the assessment of urgency and need in an SOI, such as increasing enrollment, overcrowding, building conditions, general environment, and program deficiencies. More information about the Core Program Statement of Interest Process Overview can be found here.
Invitation into Eligibility Period
The Invitation into Eligibility Period vote initiates a 270-day period for the District to complete certain preliminary requirements. Districts that do not successfully complete the preliminary requirements of the Eligibility Period within the 270-day period will have to re-file an SOI during the next open SOI filing period. An invitation to the Eligibility Period is not an invitation to Feasibility Study and it does not guarantee an invitation to the MSBA’s Capital Pipeline.
The Eligibility Period assists the MSBA with managing its financial resources by identifying early in the process whether a District is ready to manage and fund a capital project. It will help to determine a District’s financial and community readiness to enter the grant program. It will also assist Districts locally by providing a definitive schedule and identifying needs for planning and budgeting.
Eligibility Period commencement dates (when the 270-day period begins) are phased across several months following the Board’s annual Invitation into Eligibility Period vote. Commencement dates were introduced to ensure District readiness and MSBA staff availability.
Districts can secure Feasibility Study funds in advance of its commencement date, should the District need to do so to meet local deadlines. However, Districts cannot submit any other Eligibility Period deliverables in advance of their commencement date.
Eligibility Period Requirements Summary
| Requirement | Description | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Compliance Certification | A certification of the District’s understanding and acknowledgement of the MSBA’s regulations and enabling legislation when in the grant program. | 30 Days |
| School Building Committee | A certification describing the District’s School Building Committee membership and qualifications. | 60 Days |
| Chapter 74 Vocational Technical Education Viability Documentation | Applicable to SOI Schools that contain Chapter 74 Vocational Technical Education programming, this document informs the MSBA which programs the school plans to continue offering, expand, close, or add to the SOI School. | 90 Days |
| Educational Profile Questionnaire | A form that informs the MSBA’s understanding of the District’s current and proposed educational facilities, teaching methodology, grade configurations, and program offerings. | 90 Days |
| Online Enrollment Projection | An online application that informs the MSBA’s understanding of the District’s current and proposed enrollment. | 90 Days |
| Enrollment Certification | A certification of a Study or Design Enrollment that confirms agreed upon enrollments between the MSBA and the District. | 180 Days |
| Maintenance and Capital Planning | An online application that provides a summary of the District’s existing maintenance practices. | 180 Days |
| Local Vote Authorization | Confirmation of local authorization and funding to complete Feasibility Study and Schematic Design. | 270 Days |
| Feasibility Study Agreement | A standard funding agreement that establishes a process for the District to be reimbursed for eligible expenses for Feasibility Study and Schematic Design. | 270 Days |
Next Steps
Districts that successfully complete the preliminary requirements to the satisfaction of the MSBA within the 270-day Eligibility Period are eligible to receive an invitation from the MSBA Board of Directors to the Feasibility Study phase.
Board Meetings
Districts must complete Eligibility Period requirements at least three weeks in advance of the next MSBA Board of Directors Meeting to be considered eligible. Districts that are successfully complete the preliminary requirements in less than 270 days may receive a Board invitation earlier, as determined by the MSBA.
Feasibility Study
Following the completion of Eligibility Period and attendance at a Board Meeting for an Invitation into Feasibility Study, the District will proceed into Module 2, which begins with the procurement of an Owner’s Project Manager.
The MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, competitive program. The grants are distributed by the MSBA Board of Directors based on need and urgency, as expressed by the district and validated by the MSBA. The Core Program is intended for new construction, addition, and/or renovation projects.
