Technical Assistance Program (TAP)

Welcome

The Technical Assistance Program (TAP) helps districts plan for capital improvements and expansion so they can better inform their communities about deferred maintenance needs, future enrollment, and potential funding sources for school facilities. TAP supports districts and education service districts (ESDs) by providing grants that help cover or offset the costs of conducting:

Long-Range Facility Planning;
Seismic Assessments;
Environmental Hazard Assessments; and
Engineered Wood Roof Systems Assessments.

Beginning in 2026, TAP will no longer offer the Facilities Condition Assessment Grant. Districts seeking facility condition data are encouraged to participate in the Statewide School Facility Assessment program, and reports generated through that program may now be used when applying to the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program.

The Long-Range Facility Plan remains a required component of the OSCIM grant application. Seismic Assessments are required for applications to Business Oregon’s Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program, which supports seismic retrofits of school facilities.

TAP’s Environmental Hazard Assessment Grants have supported districts in meeting state and federal compliance requirements. From 2019–2021, the Radon Environmental Hazard Assessment Grant helped nearly half of Oregon’s districts pay for radon testing to comply with Oregon Health Authority’s requirements. Beginning in 2022, the Asbestos Environmental Hazard Assessment Grant has helped districts meet the requirements of the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA).

Starting in 2026, TAP is repurposing the former Facilities Assessment Grant to offer a new Engineered Wood Roof Systems Assessment Grant. This grant helps offset the cost of a visual, engineer-led evaluation of engineered wood trusses and glulam beams in long-span facilities that are more than 50 years old, such as those commonly found in gymnasiums, cafeterias, and auditoriums. This work supports districts in responding to recent insurance coverage changes implemented by PACE, Oregon’s school district insurance pool, related to engineered wood roof systems.

Please refer to the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) under Chapter 581, Division 27, for definitions, grant program procedures, and reporting requirements for the grants listed above.

If you have questions, please contact Leanna Heiman by email or at 971-208-0336.

Program Links

Applications

Resources and Tools

Certified Assessors

Certified Assessors List
School Facilities Building ID Number (BIN) Lookup Tool
Improving Student Outcomes through Educational Adequacy Review Standards for School Facilities
Certified Assessors are required to use the ODE Facility Assessment Template when conducting facilities assessments funded by a TAP Grant. The Template can be downloaded using the below link*.
*Please note the ODE Facility Assessment Template linked below is not in an accessible format. If you have any questions or would like to request an accessible version of the document, please contact the School Facilities inbox.
- ODE Facility Assessment Template

Assessor Certification

ODE’s Certified Assessor Training is designed to support architects and engineers already working with school districts in understanding the reporting requirements for the Office of School Facilities Technical Assistance and OSCIM Programs. These programs require districts to complete a Facilities Assessment and a Long-Range Facility Plan that align with administrative rule requirements. The goal of the Certified Assessor Program is to ensure that districts receive high-quality Facilities Assessments and Long-Range Facility Plans that meet TAP standards and support eligibility for OSCIM Program funding.

If you are interested in becoming a Certified Assessor, please contact Leanna Heiman. The next training will be offered in Spring 2026 and will include guidance on helping districts interpret the Statewide School Facilities Assessment reports.

Back to the School Facilities Main Page