From Concept to Classroom: How New Charter Schools Get Off the Ground in Colorado

Starting a new charter school is one of the most complex undertakings in public education. Before a single student walks through the door, a founding team must develop a strong academic model, demonstrate community demand, build sound governance structures, secure sustainable financing and navigate a rigorous authorization process — a journey that can take years, and one the Colorado League of Charter Schools is built to support. This fall, nine new public charter schools are opening their doors to Colorado students for the first time, made possible in part through the League's hands-on development services and Great Schools Colorado, the federally funded charter school grant program administered by the League.

The League’s Role: End-to-End Support

The League helps new, expanding and replicating charter schools navigate a clear path toward authorization, whether through a home school district or the Colorado Charter School Institute. That path stays open because the League also works on members’ behalf, advocating to protect and strengthen the authorizing options schools depend on.

“We’ve supported the vast majority of charter schools across the state with drafting, revising and organizing their applications, drawing on more than 30 years of experience in Colorado's charter landscape,” the League’s Senior Director of School Quality and Growth Bill Knous said.

“Every community and every charter school is different, so we tailor support for League members to ensure their schools launch from the strongest possible platform.”

Schools that are already open can also engage the League when considering expansion or replication — from assessing readiness to planning governance and finances for sustainable growth. This kind of hands-on support, from that first feasibility conversation through opening day and every growth milestone after, is one of the reasons schools stay League members long after they open their doors.

Great Schools Colorado: Federal Funding for High-Quality Schools

New and expanding schools can also tap into Great Schools Colorado, the $68+ million federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) grant the League was selected to administer. GSC provides competitive grants, technical assistance and implementation support to schools. To date, the program has supported 27 schools across a range of models, geographies and student populations, with a focus on expanding access for at-risk students and improving statewide school quality.

In Focus: James Irwin Elementary

When James Irwin Elementary on Canada Drive opened its doors in fall 2024, it did so with quality and stability from day one — thanks in part to a $1.44 million CSP grant through Great Schools Colorado. Serving students in grades K–5 in Colorado Springs and authorized by El Paso County District 49, the school is the third elementary campus within the James Irwin Charter Schools network, which now includes six schools under the leadership of Principal Janiece Primrose and Chief Executive Officer Rob Daugherty.

The grant also provided professional development and planning time, so teachers were fully trained in the school’s instructional model and culture expectations before and during the first year of operation.

“For new schools, CSP funding is not just helpful; it is transformative," says Daugherty. “This [funding] ensures students experience consistency, structure, and strong instruction from the start,” says Daugherty.

With the CSP investment, James Irwin Charter Schools has been able to fulfill its promise of a high-quality education grounded in character, discipline, and strong academics — while also planning responsibly for future growth.

Thinking About Starting or Growing a School?

Grant Cycle 3 of Great Schools Colorado is expected to open in early 2027. The application process, while rigorous, comes with League support every step of the way.

If your team is exploring a new school, a new campus, or replication, the League’s School Services team can help you identify the right next step.

Learn more and connect with our team at coloradoleague.org/school-services/start-a-school.html.

Explore Great Schools Colorado at greatschoolscolorado.org.