Federal Charter Schools Program Grant

In September 2019, WA Charters was awarded nearly $20M through the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant.

Ninety percent of these funds will be distributed by WA Charters through sub-grants to Washington state charter public schools. These sub-grants will provide direct funding to open new and expand existing high-quality charter public schools. Remaining funds will be used to provide resources to support the overall quality and growth of the Washington charter sector and administration of the grant.

Six five-year planning and implementation grants providing up to $1.5M each will be awarded: up to $200,000 in planning year funding and up to $1.3M in implementation funding over four years.

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools: “Hear from school leaders about the Charter Schools Program (CSP)—the nation’s only source of dedicated federal funding to support the creation, expansion, and replication of public charter schools!”

Eligibility for Applying

Please note that there will be no more sub-grant competitions. For more information, please contact: cspgrant@wacharters.org 

To be eligible to apply for planning and implementation sub-grant funds, a charter public school must have a newly approved charter for a charter public school by a Washington state authorizer or be a Waiver School.

To be eligible to apply for expansion sub-grant funds, a charter public school must have an approved charter for a charter public school by a Washington state authorizer and show they are high-quality.

WAIVER SCHOOLS

Waiver schools are eligible to apply for CSP implementation sub-grant funds under a waiver. Waiver Schools must:

  • Have a previous CSP Planning Grant under No Child Left Behind through the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • Be on track to be an operating school in the 2020-21 school year

NEW CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

New charter public schools are eligible to apply for CSP planning and implementation sub-grant funds. New charter public schools must:

  • Have an approved/authorized charter application
  • Have 501(c)3 designation

Note: If funds are awarded, funds may not be spent until a charter contract is fully executed

EXPANSION SCHOOLS

Expanding charter public schools – or expansion schools – are eligible to apply for CSP expansion sub-grant funds. Expansion schools must:

  • Have an approved application for expansion of a currently high-quality, operating charter public school

Please note the important dates below and plan on attending both a pre-application opening webinar and in-person training, depending on the type of sub-grant for which you are applying.

Sub-grant Application Timeline

EXPANSION OF CURRENT CHARTER SCHOOLS: Elapsed Period August 1 – September 11, 2023

Please note that there will be no more sub-grant competitions. For more information, please contact: cspgrant@wacharters.org 

Allowable Sub-grant Expenditures

Allowable expenses include:

  • Preparing teachers, school leaders and instructional support personnel through professional development.
  • Hiring and compensating teachers, school leaders, and instructional support staff during the planning year.
  • Acquiring supplies, training, equipment, and educational materials.
  • Carrying out necessary renovations to ensure that a new school building complies with building regulations and minor facilities repairs (excluding construction).
  • One-time transportation start-up costs.
  • Community engagement activities, including paying cost of student/staff recruitment and informing the community about the school.

Awards

November 2023 'Expansion Schools' Sub-grant Awards

Catalyst Public Schools (High School) Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded
Rainier Valley Leadership Academy Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded

April 2021 CSP Innovation and Excellence Awards

Spokane International Academy (SIA) Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded
Whatcom Intergenerational High School (WIHS) Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded
Why Not You Academy Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded

March 2021 CSP Innovation and Excellence Awards

Impact | Renton Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded
Rooted School | Vancouver Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded

September 2020 CSP Innovation and Excellence Awards

Pullman Community Montessori Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded
Pinnacles Prep Charter Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded
Impact I Commencement Bay Elementary Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded

July 2020 CSP Innovation and Excellence Awards

Catalyst Public Schools: Bremerton Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded with Conditions
Impact | Salish Sea Elementary Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded
Lumen High School Application Narrative Score Report Award Status: Awarded with Conditions