Applicant Information and Eligibility
Applicant Information
The Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program – Grants to Charter Management Organizations for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools (CMO Grants) program was published in the Federal Register on November 10, 2022, and can be accessed here. The deadline for submission of a grant application under this competition is 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on January 3, 2023.
Additional competition information can be accessed on the FY 2023 CSP CMO Competition page.
Previous Competitions
To learn more about the previous competitions, please visit the below links.
Eligibility
Through charter management organizations (CMOs) grants, the Department provides funds to CMOs on a competitive basis to enable them to replicate or expand one or more high-quality charter schools. Grant funds may be used to expand the enrollment of one or more existing high-quality charter schools, or to replicate one or more new charter schools based on an existing high-quality charter school model.
Under section 4305(b)(1) of the ESEA, CMO grant funds must be used to open and prepare for the operation of one or more replicated high-quality charter schools or to expand one or more high-quality charter schools. Within the context of opening and preparing for the operation of one or more replicated high-quality charter schools or expanding one or more high-quality charter schools, a portion of grant funds can be used for appropriate, non-sustained costs associated with the expansion or improvement of the grantee’s oversight or management of its charter schools, provided that (i) the specific charter schools being replicated or expanded under the grant are the intended beneficiaries of such expansion or improvement; (ii) such expansion or improvement is intended to improve the grantee’s ability to manage or oversee the charter schools being replicated or expanded under the grant; and (iii) the costs cannot be met from other sources. In order to use grant funds for this purpose, an applicant must describe how the proposed costs are necessary to meet the objectives of the project and reasonable in light of the overall cost of the project.
A charter school that previously received funds for replication or expansion under this program, or that has been awarded a subgrant or grant for opening or preparing to operate a new charter school, replication, or expansion under the CSP Grants to State Entities (State Entities) program (84.282A) or CSP Grants to Developers for the Opening of New Charter Schools and for the Replication and Expansion of High-quality Charter Schools (Developers) program (84.282B and 84.282E), may not receive funds under this grant to carry out the same activities. However, such a charter school may be eligible to receive funds through a CMO grant awarded under this competition to expand the charter school beyond the existing grade levels or student count.
Likewise, a charter school that is included in an approved application for funding under this competition is ineligible to receive a subgrant or grant to carry out the same activities under the State Entities program (84.282A) or Developers program (84.282B and 84.282E), including for opening or preparing to operate a new charter school or for replication or expansion of a high-quality charter school.
Please review the current year NIA for detailed eligibility guidance.
Email CharterSchools@ed.gov, if you have any questions or concerns.
