Funding and Legislation

The chart below provides the amount of charter school program funding awarded to State educational agencies (SEAs) by fiscal year since 1995.

Fiscal Year (FY) Funding for new awards* Funding for continuation awards*
FY 2016 $177,209,326 $11,548,828
FY 2015 $125,083,872 $28,886,397
FY 2014 $0 $144,653,280
FY 2013 $0 $208,581,863
FY 2012 $9,708,214 $174,125,345
FY 2011 $49,679,652 $140,177,818
FY 2010 $136,181,260 $29,931,735
FY 2009 $81,792,972 $103,043,062
FY 2008 $71,703,981 $103,642,581
FY 2007 $74,833,137 $109,877,082
FY 2006 $33,151, 462 $152,932,172
FY 2005 $73,978,938 $92,327,621
FY 2004 $85,981,660 $97,736,461
FY 2003 $19,117,144 $183,100,510
FY 2002 $68,321,246 $107,329,071
FY 2001 $75,904,337 $77,024,934
FY 2000 $11,934,613 $110,421,036
FY 1999 $46,794,907 $53,850,142
FY 1998 $41,638,380 $31,476,131
FY 1997 $3,781,233 $39,364,688
FY 1996 $12,677,531 $8,472,690
FY 1995 $4,539,548 $0

*New Awards and Continuation Awards include supplemental and forward funding when applicable.

Legislation

  • Title V, Part B, Subpart 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), Section 5201 – 5211 (20 U.S.C. 7221-7221)
  • Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. No. 113-235) PDF (1.47 KB)
  • Charter School Program Assurances for State Educational Agencies MS Word (42KB)

Regulations

  • 2015 Notice of Final Priorities, Requirements, Definitions, and Selection Criteria; Charter Schools Program Grants to State Educational Agencies (80 FR 34201)
  • Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR)
  • Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200)
  • Uniform Guidance Technical Assistance for Grantees (Uniform Guidance TA)

Guidance

Nonregulatory Guidance

  • ESSA Flexibility Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (December 2017) PDF (190 KB)
  • ESSA Flexibility Webinar Recording and Slides
  • Dear Colleague Letter –ESSA flexibilities for CSP Grantees (November 2017) PDF (196 KB)
  • Dear Colleague Letter – Guidance Regarding the Oversight of Charter Schools Program and Regulatory Requirements, Including the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (August 2016) PDF (226 KB)
  • Dear Colleague Letter – Guidance and Federal Resources on Appropriate and Effective Oversight of Public Charter Schools. (September 2015) PDF (317 KB)
  • Charter Schools Program Nonregulatory Guidance (updated January 2014) MS Word (203 KB)
  • CSP Guidance On the Use of Funds to Support Preschool Education (December 2014) MS Word (45KB)
  • Guidance on the Voluntary Use of Race to Achieve Diversity and Avoid Racial Isolation in Elementary and Secondary Schools (December 2011) PDF (168KB)
  • Guidance Letter on Lottery Exemptions and Awards to Multiple Charter Schools Operating under a Single Charter (February 2008) PDF (1.4 MB)
  • Title I Requirements on Charter Schools Non-Regulatory Guidance (July 2004) MS Word (739KB)
  • Allocating Funds to Charter Schools (December 2000) PDF (544 KB)