League Pursues Federal Charter Schools Program Grant: Enhancing Education in Colorado

Dear Charter School Community Members,

I trust this message finds you well. We are writing to you today to share the League’s decision to pursue the Federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant. In discussion, collaboration, and cooperation with CDE SOC, the League has agreed to apply for the upcoming round of the Federal CSP. 

The U.S. Department of Education will release the notice inviting applications (NIA) for the Federal CSP in the coming weeks, and awardees will be notified by September 30, 2024. In the spirit of the entire charter ecosystem working together toward our goal of helping students have more quality educational options, we wanted to highlight why this is happening and more about CSP. 

First, why? The League, like many other charter support organizations around the country, is applying to administer this federal program because new rules both allow and encourage our participation. We examined this process and found that we could indeed be an impartial and valuable steward of the funds and a supporter of expansion, replication, and new schools in the state of Colorado. 

The League’s primary goal in its application is to bolster the educational landscape in Colorado by facilitating the growth and enhancement of new and future high-quality charter schools. By securing this grant, we aim to provide vital support, technical assistance, oversight, and financial resources to both new and existing charter schools.

Second, a little more about what CSP entails. The CSP is a federal initiative aimed at supporting the creation, expansion, and replication of public charter schools across the nation. These grants are crucial in providing resources for charter schools, especially where educational options are limited. 

The implementation of the CSP Grant (if awarded) will necessitate hiring to ensure existing services for the League’s members are not diminished. Roles such as Grant Manager, Compliance Coordinator, and Technical Assistance Coordinator may be required.

Awards granted to State Entities typically last five years, with the possibility of a sixth-year extension, if necessary. The amount awarded varies based on the requests made, but each charter school (sub-grantee) is eligible to receive up to $2 million.

How might this impact the wider community? The grant terms include seven percent of total award funds being used on technical assistance (TA) for the sub-grantees and some of these resources would then be available to all charter schools within the sector.

If you have questions or thoughts, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our charter school community. Together, let's seize this opportunity to advance educational excellence and opportunity for all students in Colorado.

Warm regards,

Dawna Taylor, VP of School Services
Bill Knous, Director of Charter School Growth
Dan Schaller, President