Finance & Funding Opportunities for Charter Schools
Funding Opportunities for Charter Schools
In fall 2024, the New York State Education Department was awarded a five-year Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant by the U.S. Department of Education. Authorized by Title IV, Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, CSP provides funding to expand opportunities for all students, particularly traditionally underserved students, to attend high-quality public charter schools and meet challenging State academic standards; provide financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools; increase the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the United States; evaluate the impact of charter schools on student achievement, families, and communities; share best practices between charter schools and other public schools; encourage States to provide facilities support to charter schools; and support efforts to strengthen the charter school authorizing process.
NYSED's CSP project will support grants to 30 new or replicating charter schools along with grants to 25 expanding high-quality charter schools and achieve four main objectives:
- Add 18,750 new seats within areas that have historically served high-need student populations in disproportionately large numbers.
- Improve student academic outcomes in New York State charter schools.
- Promote the dissemination of effective practices that lead to improved academic achievement.
- Strengthen the overall quality of New York State charter authorizing.
CSP planning and implementation (or start-up) grants and expansion grants will be awarded though periodic competitive grant processes. Start-up grants are available to new charter schools for the planning, program design, and implementation of the new charter school. Expansion grants are available for the planning, program design, and implementation of an expanding charter school. Separate requests for grant proposals for each type of grant will be issued by NYSED and made publicly available on NYSED's P-20 Funding Opportunities website.
CSP Grant Resources:
Draft NYSED CSP Grant Allowable Cost Guide (2/3/25) – This guidance is meant for potential applicants for CSP start-up grants and CSP expansion grants from NYSED. Its contents are subject to change by NYSED at any time.
Other potential sources of funds include:
Consolidated Application for ESSA-Funded Programs - All charter schools are eligible to receive funds from Title I, Part A; Title II, Part A; Title III, Part A Immigrant; Title III, Part A ELL; Title IV, Part A; and Title V, Part B.
State Stimulus Fund Grants - This is a competitive grant program administered by the SUNY Charter Schools Institute that focuses on facility construction, renovation, financing, leasehold improvements, and other facility related expenses.
Other NYSED Funding Opportunities - Charter schools may be eligible for other grant programs administered by NYSED. Grant applications are released on an ongoing basis.
NYSED Fiscal Guidance for All Grant Programs
U.S. Department of Education Funding Opportunities - Charter schools may be eligible for grant programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards