Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) today announced the release of $500 million to the Charter Schools Programs, marking the largest investment in the program ever. This historic investment in charter schools will support high-quality education options for parents so their students can pursue learning experiences that best fit their needs, regardless of income or zip code.
“A one-size fits all education system is not working for our students. Charter schools allow for innovative educational models that expand learning opportunities for students,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “The Trump Administration will continue to use every available tool to advocate for meaningful learning, advance school choice, and ensure every student is well-positioned to succeed.”
The Department made awards under all six Charter Schools Programs: State Entity, Charter School Management Organization, Developer, State Facilities, Credit Enhancement, and Model Dissemination and Development grants. In addition, supplemental funding was awarded to existing State Entity grantees to help meet the increased demand for charter schools.
In May, during National Charter School Week, Secretary McMahon announced $60 million in additional funding this year for charter schools. She also unveiled the new Model Development and Dissemination grant opportunity. The Department is thrilled to distribute these funds and looks forward to the great work grantees will accomplish to improve academic achievement, expand education choice, and strengthen the charter school sector.
Grant Award Highlights:
- State Entity Grants: The Department will award grants to six states totaling $293.7 million over the next five years to replicate and expand high-quality charter schools.
- Model Development and Dissemination Grants: The Department will award 12 new grants totaling $27.6 million over the next five years to develop and disseminate comprehensive tools and resources to charter schools. Grantees propose to support the replication of effective practices through hands-on assistance to key leaders in the charter school sector and by developing practical toolkits, model templates, and other resources to equip charter school founders, authorizers, and other key state leaders with tools they need to operationalize innovative charter models.
- Charter Management Organization Grants: The Department will award $263 million over the next five years to 22 new grantees, the highest amount in the history of the grant program. The grantees propose to replicate and expand a total of 147 high-quality charter schools across the country.
- Developer Grants: The Department will award $10.7 million over the next five years for seven new grants, three times as much as last year. These grants provide financial assistance to charter school developers to open new or to expand high-quality charter schools in States that do not currently have a CSP State Entity grant.
- State Facilities Incentive Grants: The Department will award three new grants over the next five years worth $126 million, the largest amount ever awarded, to help states establish, enhance, and administer per-pupil facilities aid programs for charter schools.
- Credit Enhancement Grants: The Department will award five new grants awards totaling $95.4 million, the highest awarded amount in the last ten years of the grant program. This grant supports eligible entities that demonstrate innovative methods of helping charter schools address the cost of acquiring, constructing, and renovating facilities.
Supplemental Funding to Support Increased Charter School Demand:
- The Department will award an additional $51.7 million in supplemental funding to existing State Entity grantees to support the creation or expansion of charter schools focused on civics education; career and technical education; and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, among other innovative charter school models.
- Existing State Entity grantees must use these supplemental funds to support increased demand for charter schools, including activities that meet the Administration’s priorities related to evidence-based literacy instruction, increased access to innovative school models, expanded access to high-impact tutoring, and providing technical assistance to new or existing charter schools.
More information on Charter School Program grant recipients will become available here.
