Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII): Charter Schools Program (CSP): Grants to State Entities CFDA Number 84.282A | ED GRANTS 030918 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 030918 001

The Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to State Entities opportunity (CFDA 84.282A) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Education that supports the growth and quality of public charter schools by funding state-level entities that, in turn, award subgrants to eligible applicants. The program is built around expanding access to public charter schools, with a clear emphasis on serving traditionally underserved students and helping students meet challenging state academic standards. In practical terms, the federal government funds a state entity so it can act as a grantmaker and support system for charter school start-up and growth within that state.

The purpose of the CSP overall is broad and multi-part. It aims to expand educational opportunities by increasing access to charter schools, especially for students who have historically had fewer high-quality options. It provides financial assistance for key early-stage activities such as planning, program design, and initial implementation, recognizing that strong launch periods often determine whether a school succeeds long term. It also focuses on increasing the number of high-quality charter schools available nationwide, not just increasing the number of schools in general. Beyond growth, the program encourages evaluation of charter schools impacts on student achievement as well as effects on families and communities, and it promotes sharing best practices between charter schools and traditional public schools so that effective approaches can spread across the broader public education system. The program also pushes states to improve the conditions charter schools operate in by encouraging facilities support and strengthening the charter school authorizing process.

Within this specific competition, the Department awards grants to state entities that will make subgrants to eligible applicants to open new charter schools and to replicate and expand high-quality charter schools. The design signals that the federal government is not only interested in brand-new start-ups, but also in scaling models that have demonstrated quality, whether through replication (opening additional schools based on a successful model) or expansion (growing enrollment or grade offerings of an existing high-quality school). In addition to subgrants, grant funds can be used for technical assistance to help applicants and authorizers navigate the process of opening new schools and scaling successful ones. The notice also highlights work with authorized public chartering agencies to improve authorizing quality, including building capacity for fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools, which reflects a strong compliance and accountability component alongside school growth.

Key administrative details included in the synopsis identify this as a grant funding instrument under the education funding activity category. The opportunity number is ED GRANTS 030918 001. The application window opened March 9, 2018, and the deadline for transmitting applications was April 20, 2018. A pre-application webinar was scheduled for March 14, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The award ceiling listed is $25,000,000, and the Department anticipated making about three awards, suggesting a small number of relatively large state-level grants.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with a note to consult the official Federal Register application notice for the exact definitions and requirements. The synopsis stresses that the Federal Register notice is the controlling source for full details, including eligibility rules, application requirements, submission instructions, performance measures, priorities, and program contacts. It also points applicants to the Department of Education Common Instructions for Applicants to Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 12, 2018, 83 FR 6003) for addresses and standardized submission guidance.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII): Charter Schools Program (CSP): Grants to State Entities CFDA Number 84.282A" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.282.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 09, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 20, 2018 Applications Available March 9, 2018. Date of Pre-Application Webinar Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 200 p.m., Eastern Time. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications April 20, 2018.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for ED GRANTS 030918 001

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