Applicant Information and Eligibility
Applicant Information
The Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 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 September 26, 2023, and can be accessed here. The competition closed on January 5, 2024.
Previous Competitions
To learn more about the previous competitions, please visit the below links.
- 2024 (using FY 2023 funds)
- 2023 (using FY 2022 funds)
- 2020 (using FY 2019 funds)
- 2019 (using FY 2108 funds)
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
Eligibility
Through CSP CMO Grants, the Department awards grants to charter management organizations (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 significantly increase the enrollment of, or add one or more grades to, an existing high-quality charter school or to open one or more new charter schools or new campuses of a high-quality charter school based on the educational model of an existing high-quality charter school. Charter schools that receive financial assistance through CSP CMO Grants provide elementary or secondary education programs, or both, and may also serve students in early childhood education programs or postsecondary students, consistent with the terms of their charter.
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.
A charter school that previously received funds for replication or expansion under this program (ALN 84.282M), 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 (SE Grants) program (ALN 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 (Developer Grants) program (ALNs 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 CSP 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 (ALN 84.282M) is ineligible to receive a subgrant or grant to carry out the same activities under the CSP SE Grant program (ALN 84.282A) or CSP Developer Grant program (ALNs 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.
