| (1) In this section, the word "certify" indicates that
the architect or engineer has reviewed the standards contained in
this chapter and used the best professional judgment and reasonable
care consistent with the practice of architecture or engineering in
the State of Texas in executing the construction documents. The architect
or engineer also certifies that these documents conform to the provisions
of this section, except as indicated on the certification.
(2) The school district shall notify and obligate the
architect or engineer to provide the required certification. The architect's
or engineer's signature and seal on the construction documents shall
certify compliance.
(3) To ensure that facilities have been designed and
constructed according to the provisions of this section, each of the
involved parties shall execute responsibilities as follows.
(A) The school district shall provide the architect
or engineer the educational program and educational specifications
approved by the board of trustees as required by this subchapter,
and building code specifications for the facility. If a school district
has a long-range school facility plan, it shall also be provided to
the architect or engineer.
(B) The architect or engineer shall perform a building
code search under applicable regulations that may influence the project,
and shall certify that the design has been researched before it is
final.
(C) The architect or engineer shall also certify that
the facility has been designed according to the provisions of this
section, based on the educational program, educational specifications,
long-range school facility plan, building code specifications, and
all documented changes to the construction documents provided by the
district.
(D) The building contractor or construction manager
shall certify that the facility has been constructed in general accordance
with the construction documents specified in subparagraph (C) of this
paragraph. If the school district acts as general contractor, it shall
make the certification required by this paragraph.
(E) When construction is completed, the school district
shall certify that the facility conforms to the design requirements
specified in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(F) The certifications specified in subparagraphs (A)-(E)
of this paragraph shall be gathered on the "Certification of Project
Compliance" form developed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The
school district will retain this form in its files indefinitely until
review and/or submittal is required by representatives of the TEA.
(d) Space, minimum square foot, and design requirements.
(1) A school district shall provide instructional space
if required by the district educational specifications described in
subsection (e) of this section.
(2) For each type of instructional space, a district
shall satisfy the requirements of this section by using the standard
for square feet per room specified in paragraph (5)(B)-(D) of this
subsection. For school districts with facilities that have one or
more classrooms with maximum class sizes that are normally less than
22 students at the elementary level and less than 25 students at the
middle or high school level, the school districts may satisfy the
requirements of this section for those classrooms by using the standard
for the minimum square feet per student specified in paragraph (5)(B)-(D)
of this subsection. These classrooms shall be designed on the basis
of expected maximum class size, and not expected average class size.
Upon submission by a district, alternate classroom designs with square
feet per room measurements less than those specified in this subsection
may be considered for approval by the TEA division responsible for
state funding on a case-by-case basis.
(3) School districts should consider providing extra
square footage in classrooms where the use on a regular basis of multiple
computers, large furniture, televisions, mobile laptop carts, mobile
video conferencing carts, monitors on carts, or the like is anticipated.
To improve circulation and usability of classroom space, school districts
with class sizes that are normally larger than 25 students for Grades
5-12 should also consider increasing the minimum classroom size by
adding the appropriate minimum square feet per student specified in
paragraph (5)(B)-(D) of this subsection for each student in excess
of 25.
(4) Compliance with the standards specified in paragraph
(5)(B)-(D) of this subsection will be evaluated based on the school
district's intended full-time and/or part-time use of the areas, and
not the name of the areas as identified in the construction documents.
(5) Instructional area size and design requirements.
(A) Design criteria. The school district shall provide
the architect or engineer with all expected class sizes for the facilities,
with the list of chemicals to be used in the science laboratories
or science laboratory/classrooms, and with the number of computers
anticipated in the library, so that the architect or engineer can
adequately design the facilities to meet the criteria specified in
subparagraphs (B)-(D) of this paragraph.
(B) General classrooms.
(i) Classrooms for prekindergarten-Grade 1 shall have
a minimum of 800 square feet per room. School districts with small
class sizes may have classrooms that provide a minimum of 36 square
feet per student.
(ii) Classrooms at the elementary school level for
Grades 2 and up shall have a minimum of 700 square feet per room.
School districts with small class sizes may have classrooms that provide
a minimum of 32 square feet per student.
(iii) Classrooms at the secondary school level shall
have a minimum of 700 square feet per room. School districts with
small class sizes may have classrooms that provide a minimum of 28
square feet per student.
(C) Specialized classrooms.
(i) A computer classroom used for the teaching of computer
skills shall have a minimum of 900 square feet per room. The minimum
room size is ideal for 25 students; 36 square feet per student should
be added to the minimum square footage for each student in excess
of 25. School districts with small class sizes may have computer classrooms
that provide a minimum of 36 square feet per student. School districts
should consider the heat output of computers when designing the ventilation
system that serves a computer classroom.
(ii) Computer laboratories that are not used regularly
for scheduled instruction but that are intended to support other instructional
areas shall have a minimum of 25 square feet per computer station.
For computer laboratories where the use of portable computers, such
as laptop computers, is anticipated, the size may be reduced to 20
square feet per computer station.
(iii) The following provisions shall apply to combination
science laboratories/classrooms, where each student has a lab station
and where typically there is a clearly defined laboratory area and
a clearly defined lecture area.
(I) Combination science laboratories/classrooms shall
have a minimum of 900 square feet per room at the elementary school
level. The minimum room size is adequate for 22 students; 41 square
feet per student shall be added to the minimum square footage for
each student in excess of 22.
(II) Combination science laboratories/classrooms shall
have a minimum of 1,200 square feet per room at the middle school
level. The minimum room size is adequate for 24 students; 50 square
feet per student shall be added to the minimum square footage for
each student in excess of 24.
(III) Combination science laboratories/classrooms shall
have a minimum of 1,400 square feet per room at the high school level.
The minimum room size is adequate for 24 students; 58 square feet
per student shall be added to the minimum square footage for each
student in excess of 24.
(IV) School districts with small class sizes may have
combination science laboratories/classrooms that provide a minimum
of 41 square feet per student but not less than 700 square feet total
at the elementary school level, a minimum of 50 square feet per student
but not less than 950 square feet total at the middle school level,
and a minimum of 58 square feet per student but not less than 1,100
square feet total at the high school level.
(iv) For districts that choose to use separate science
classrooms and science laboratories, the following provisions shall
apply.
(I) A science classroom shall be a minimum of 700 square
feet regardless of grade level served.
(II) A science laboratory shall have a minimum of 800
square feet at the elementary school level. The minimum laboratory
size is adequate for 22 students; 36 square feet per student shall
be added to the minimum square footage for each student in excess
of 22.
(III) A science laboratory shall have a minimum of
900 square feet at the middle school level. The minimum laboratory
size is adequate for 24 students; 38 square feet per student shall
be added to the minimum square footage for each student in excess
of 24.
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