ESEA TITLE IV, PART C: Charter Schools Grants

Funding

$400M, awarded competitively

Eligibility

Charter schools, charter management organizations, state or local governments, private nonprofits, or a consortium of these same entities.

Sample Use of Funds

Activities could include:

• Facilitating financing by identifying potential lending sources, encouraging private lending, and other similar activities that directly promote lending to, or for the benefit of, charter schools;
• Establishing or enhancing, and administering, a per-pupil facilities aid program for charter schools; and carrying out evaluations, providing technical assistance, and disseminating information;
• Carrying out necessary renovations to ensure that a new school building complies with applicable statutes and regulations, and minor facilities repairs (excluding construction);
• carrying out community engagement activities, which may include paying the cost of student and staff recruitment;
• Providing technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in carrying out the awarding of subgrants to eligible applicants to enable eligible applicants to open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools, open and prepare for the operation of replicated high-quality charter schools, or expand high-quality charter schools;
• Providing for other appropriate, non-sustained costs related to opening and preparing for the operation of new charter schools, replicated high-quality charter schools, or expansion of high-quality charter schools when such costs cannot be met from other sources.

For all uses of funds under this program, refer to the complete ESSA Federal Funding Guide (PDF).

Key Provisions:

Duration: grants to State entities and subgrants to developers are for up to 5 years. Developers may use not more than 18 months for planning and program design, including hiring and compensating school leaders and instructional staff.

Number of grants: the Secretary must make at least 3 new grants each year, and fully fund the first 2 years of each grant with the initial award.

Priority applications: State entities that support charter schools for at-risk students and that ensure all charter school authorizers implement recognized school approval and monitoring standards and procedures.

For more information, contact Tom Zembar at 202.822.7109 or [email protected]

Next Steps

You have a right to know if your state or district applied for the funds and influence how they are spent. Most grants have already been disbursed to your state and district, but others may require an application.

Once you find a grant, make sure it’s appropriate for your intended use. Then, contact your local NEA Affiliate to organize an effort to hold your district and state accountable for how the money is used.