Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) is offering CSP Grants to Non-State Educational Agencies (Non-SEA) for Planning, Program Design, and Initial Implementation of Charter Schools.

Note: Section 5210 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i(2)) defines a “Developer” as an individual or group of individuals (including a public or private nonprofit organization), which may include teachers, administrators and other school staff, parents, or other members of the local community in which a charter school project will be carried out. The charter school must be located in a State with a State statute specifically authorizing the establishment of charter schools and in which the SEA elects not to participate in the CSP or does not have an application approved under the CSP.

(b) Dissemination grants (CFDA number 84.282C): Charter schools, as defined in section 5210(1) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i(1)), that have been in operation for at least three consecutive years and have demonstrated overall success, including–
(1) Substantial progress in improving student academic achievement;
(2) High levels of parent satisfaction; and
(3) The management and leadership necessary to overcome initial start-up problems and establish a thriving, financially viable charter school.

Note: Consistent with section 5204(f)(6) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221c(f)(6)), a charter school may apply for funds to carry out dissemination activities, whether or not the charter school previously applied for or received funds under the CSP for planning, program design, or implementation.

Note: These competitions (CFDA numbers 84.282B and 84.282C) are limited to eligible applicants in States in which the SEA does not have an approved application under the CSP (or will not have an approved application as of October 1, 2012). The following States currently have approved applications under the CSP: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Eligible applicants, including charter schools, located in States with currently approved CSP applications that are interested in participating in the CSP should contact the SEA for information related to the State’s CSP subgrant competition. Further information is available at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii/csp/funding.html.

Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information.

Purpose of Program: The purposes of the CSP are to increase national understanding of the charter school model by expanding the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the Nation; providing financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools; and evaluating the effects of charter schools, including their effects on students, student academic achievement, staff, and parents.
Non-SEA eligible applicants in States in which the SEA does not have an approved application under the CSP may receive grants directly from the Secretary for planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools, and to carry out dissemination activities. States with approved CSP applications are Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Non-SEA eligible applicants that propose to use grant funds for planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools must apply under CFDA number 84.282B. Non-SEA eligible applicants that request funds for dissemination activities must apply under CFDA number 84.282C.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.282B.

Applications for grants under the CSP, CFDA Numbers 84.282B and 84.282C, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
You may access the electronic grant application for the CSP at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.282, not 84.282B or 282C).