Find What You Need

This website will help you understand the Public School Construction Process (PSCP), whether you're a school district representative, a consultant working on a school building project, or a concerned citizen.

The Process

To make it easier to understand and complete the PSCP, we have broken down the overall PSCP into eight separate processes, listed in the left column. Each process contains the set of tasks you need to perform in order to complete that process. The PSCP is virtually the same whether your school district is building a new school or modernizing an existing one — in either case, your district needs to complete each process, in the order listed. For details on each process, select the appropriate link in the left column.

Additional Information

A Project Tracking Number (PTN) is now required on all application forms submitted to the Office of Public School Construction (OPSC), Division of the State Architect (DSA), and California Department of Education (CDE). This tracking number allows these offices to link district project tracking information. To receive a PTN for your project, select the Project Tracking Number Generator link in the right column.

For answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the PSCP, select the Help link in the right column. The Contact Information page provides mailing addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers for all of the California agencies and departments mentioned throughout this website. The Related Links page contains a list of other websites you may find helpful.

If you would like a printable version of the information on this website, you can view or download "A Primer on the Public School State Approval Process" (PDF; 224 KB). You will need the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view the Primer. If you do not have a copy of the Acrobat® Reader, you can download this free software from Adobe's website.

The OPSC also has developed a "Cost Reduction Guidelines" (PDF; 646K) document, available on the OPSC website.

Energy Managment Strategies in Public Libraries

The California State Library has recently published a book entitled "Energy Management Strategies in Public Libraries" by Edward Dean, AIA, which may be of use to school districts in the planning of a library project. This comprehensive 208 page document covers topics on energy management strategies, lighting systems, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems and hot water systems to name a few. It applies energy management strategies to both existing and new facilities. It is not currently available on the Internet, however it can be checked out from the California State Library.