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Public Schools on Military Installations

Contact Us

David Kennedy
Program Activity Lead - Public Schools on Military Installations
(703) 697-2136 
david.r.kennedy.civ@mail.mil

Click here for Before and After photos of some schools that participated in the Public Schools on Military Installations program.

Participation in this program is by invitation only on the basis of 1) a Deputy Secretary of Defense prioritization ranking of all 160+ public schools on a military installation through a Priority Listing; and 2) the availability of appropriations to fund a project in the order of that prioritization.

This listing is derived through a Department of Defense Education Activity directed assessment of the condition and capacity of each public school on a military installation through contractor support using standards they have for their own schools. These assessments are then normed into a stoplight rating system for condition and capacity at each school that then are the basis for Deputy Secretary of Defense’s approval of a complete Priority Listing.

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation then uses this approved listing to invite Local Education Agencies (School District equivalent with jurisdiction) in the order of the prioritization as appropriations may be available, to develop proposals through a project for addressing the condition and capacity issues underlying a specific school’s priority.  

Many of these schools have not seen upgrades or significant facility improvements for years, if ever.  While many of these facilities are outdated, in disrepair, and in need of upgrades, the schools are also often operating at or above capacity with too many students, not enough classroom space, and are functionally inadequate.

Click here to view and download the Fact Sheet for the Public Schools on Military Installations program.

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Activities may include the construction, renovation, repair, or expansion of public schools to address capacity and/or facility condition deficiencies as prioritized by a Secretary of Defense. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will only invite Local Education Agency school projects if appropriations become available in any given year.  

Each invited school project is unique to the community it must serve and is evaluated on the basis of its long-term responsiveness to the condition and capacity problems that led to it being invited. Once invited, Local Education Agencies are to develop a project proposal that describes their proposed project, including how it addresses the condition and capacity deficiencies that placed the school on the Priority List, and how it complies with state and local design standards, educational specifications, and installation requirements.  For more details on program activities, please contact the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation Program Activity Lead.

Supporting Key Military Missions and Promoting Community Development

Technical assistance for Public Schools on Military Installations project activities include:

  • Project scoping assistance
  • Assistance with planning and developing design requirements
  • Providing lessons learned and best practices 
  • Proposal and grant development guidance
  • Facilitating communication with local military installations and/or other Federal programs
  • Project management guidance
  • Providing grants for planning, design and construction activities to address identified facility deficiencies
  • General grant support

Local Education Authorities are invited to apply based upon their placement on the Deputy Secretary of Defense's Schools Priority Listing.

The relevant Assistance Listing numbers is:

12.600 Community Investment

Public Schools on Military Installations Orientation Slides May 2023

VBCPS Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Emissions Reduction Plan 2019

K-12 Schools---owner guidance

Affordable Zero Energy K-12 Schools: The Cost Barrier Illusion

HVAC electrification guide

2011 Federal Funding Opportunity

2015 Federal Register Notice

See Terms and Conditions  for more information on specific grant policy and alignment to Federal regulations.

Examples
Discovery Elementary School – Arlington, Virginia – Net-Zero School