CSP Planning and Implementation Grant

The Charter Schools Program (CSP) Planning and Implementation grant is a three-year, $1.5 million grant that supports new charter schools as they establish strong operational systems and rigorous academic programs critical to successfully serving students.

The CSP grant is divided into two phases: Planning and Implementation. New schools receive $750,000 in each phase, for a total of $1.5 million in funding.

Eligibility Requirements

• Conditional charter approval from the DC Public Charter School Board to operate as a charter school in the District of Columbia (usually occurs in the spring)
• Meets the federal definition of a charter school
  • For purposes of OSSE’s CSP program only, secondary education includes adult education offered by an adult public charter school that awards a high school diploma or offers an equivalency program and is authorized by the DC Public Charter School Board.
• Doesn’t currently receive CSP funds through a Charter Management Organizations for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools (CMO) grant from the US Department of Education
• Didn’t previously receive CSP funds for the same purpose under another school name before being reconstituted or rechartered

Once eligibility is confirmed, OSSE reaches out to the conditionally approved charter school to schedule an orientation session, during which details of the CSP grant application process are shared.

OSSE anticipates releasing the next CSP Planning and Implementation grant application in summer 2024.

Application Resources

• CSP Planning and Implementation Grant Overview
• CSP Logic Model Template
• LEA Certification of Application Form
• CSP Planning and Implementation Permissible Use of Funds

CSP Replication, Expansion and School Takeover Grant

The CSP Replication, Expansion and School Takeover grants are two-year grants with an award amount of up to $950,000. These grants create strong conditions for student learning through adding additional seats in high-quality charter schools with a proven track record of increasing student achievement for all learners.

Eligibility Requirements

• Approval from the DC Public Charter School Board for a school to amend its charter for the following purposes: replicating an existing educational model at a new campus, significantly expanding its enrollment ceiling, adding additional grade levels, or taking over a closing charter school
• Meets the federal definition of a charter school
  • For purposes of OSSE’s CSP program only, secondary education includes adult education offered by an adult public charter school that awards a high school diploma or offers an equivalency program and is authorized by the DC Public Charter School Board.
• Meets the federal definition of a high-quality charter school
• Doesn’t currently receive CSP funds through a CMO grant from the US Department of Education
• Fully completed the requirements of any previous CSP grant from OSSE (i.e., Planning and Implementation)
• Hasn’t previously received a CSP grant from OSSE for the same or similar purposes

Replication Grants: Additional Eligibility Requirements and Award Amounts

• Meets the federal definition of replication (applicable to schools replicating an existing educational model at a new campus)
• Award amount: $750,000 plus incentive funding if applicable ($100,000 if the new campus serves grades 9-12 and/or $100,000 if located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone).

Expansion Grants: Additional Eligibility Requirements and Award Amounts

• Meets the federal and state definitions of significant expansion (applicable to schools increasing their enrollment ceiling and/or adding grade levels)
  • OSSE definition: For the purposes of this grant, “significant expansion” means to increase the enrollment ceiling by at least 20 percent or 100 students, whichever is fewer, or to add at least one new grade level, over the course of the two-year award period.
• Award amount: Varies based on projected enrollment increase. Applicants will submit an enrollment projection form to OSSE prior to completing the grant application.
  • Base amount: $250,000
    • Additional $2,500 per student, based on the projected enrollment increase over the two grant award years, not to exceed $500,000
    • Incentive funding: Additional $100,000 for LEAs that add seats in grades 9-12
    • Incentive funding: Additional $100,000 for LEAs with an expanding campus located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone
  • Total maximum award amount: $950,000

School Takeover Grants: Additional Requirements and Award Amounts

• Must complete a needs assessment and school improvement plan as part of the grant application.
• Must attend professional development and trainings over the course of the grant award period that align with the needs assessment.
• Award amount: $750,000
• Additional School Takeover eligibility requirements are currently under review and will be updated here in the near future.

Once eligibility is confirmed, OSSE reaches out to the school to share details of the CSP grant application process, which is anticipated to occur once per year, depending on the number of eligible schools.

Application Resources

• CSP Logic Model Template
• LEA Certification of Application Form
• CSP Replication, Expansion, and School Takeover Permissible Use of Funds

Additional Information about Replication, Expansion and School Takeover Grants Coming Soon.

Additional CSP Information

For additional information about CSP, please select the links below.

    

Contact Us

For questions or additional information, please email [email protected].

The Charter Schools Program is administered by OSSE’s Office of Federal Programs and Strategic Funding within the Division of Systems and Supports, K-12.

[Publication Date: Dec. 7, 2022]