Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP): Grants to Charter School Developers for the Replication and expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools CFDA Number 84.282E | ED GRANTS 052220 002

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), under the Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP). The specific competition is CFDA 84.282E and it focuses on helping charter school developers replicate or expand high-quality charter schools.

2) What is the main goal of CSP in general?

The broader CSP program is intended to increase access to strong public charter school options. A central emphasis is expanding opportunity for traditionally underserved students so they can attend schools that support them in meeting challenging state academic standards.

3) What does this specific competition (84.282E) fund?

This competition supports the replication and expansion of high-quality charter schools. It is positioned as a federal tool to grow proven charter school models and support early-stage work that can be difficult to fund through regular operating revenue.

4) How is 84.282E different from other CSP developer funding?

84.282E (this competition) is focused on replication and expansion of high-quality charter schools. The synopsis also references a related CSP developer competition for opening new charter schools (84.282B) and a separate CSP State Entity grant program (84.282A).

5) Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be charter school developers who have applied to an authorized public chartering authority to operate a charter school and who have provided that authorizer adequate and timely notice, consistent with ESEA definitions and requirements.

6) Does the charter school have to be in a state with a charter school law?

Yes. The charter school connected to the application must be located in a state that has a state statute specifically authorizing charter schools.

7) Are there state-based restrictions tied to other CSP funding?

Yes. Eligibility is generally limited to developers in states that do not currently have a CSP State Entity grant (84.282A) under the ESEA as amended by ESSA. The intent described is to avoid duplicating funding pathways and to direct developers toward the most appropriate CSP funding source depending on what is already operating in their state.

8) What is the special rule for states with older CSP SEA grants under NCLB?

In states with an older CSP State Educational Agency (SEA) grant under the ESEA as amended by No Child Left Behind (NCLB), developers may only apply for replication and expansion (84.282E), and only if the Department has not approved an amendment to the SEA grant that would allow the SEA to make subgrants for replication and expansion.

9) Is this a competitive grant?

Yes. Developer Grants are awarded competitively, meaning applicants are scored against one another based on the requirements and priorities described in the official Federal Register notice.

10) Where are the detailed requirements (application components, selection criteria, priorities, performance measures)?

The synopsis explains that the detailed requirements, including application components, selection criteria, priorities, performance measures, and submission rules, are contained in the official application notice in the Federal Register and in the Department's common discretionary grant instructions.

11) What does CSP aim to accomplish beyond opening more schools?

The purposes described include: expanding student access to charter schools; providing financial support for planning, program design, and initial implementation; increasing the supply of high-quality charter schools nationwide; evaluating impacts on students, families, and communities; sharing effective practices between charter schools and other public schools; encouraging states to provide more facilities support for charter schools; and supporting stronger charter authorizing practices.

12) What does the Department consider "initial implementation" with respect to how long a school has been operating?

As a general rule described in the notice, charter schools that have been operating for more than five years are considered beyond the initial implementation phase.

13) How does the five-year rule affect eligibility for replication and expansion under 84.282E?

The notice states that charter schools operating for more than five years are generally not eligible for CSP developer funds to replicate a high-quality charter school (84.282E). However, those same schools may still be eligible under 84.282E to expand a high-quality charter school, meaning expansion is treated differently than replication when a school has a longer operating history.

14) Can an applicant apply if the charter has not yet received final authorizer approval?

Yes, the synopsis describes a process for applying prior to final approval. If the applicant has submitted a charter application to an authorized public chartering agency but has not yet been approved, the federal grant application must include a dated copy of the charter application that was submitted.

15) What else must be included if authorizer approval is still pending?

The applicant must include a clear plan and timeline for when the applicant expects to receive the authorizer's final decision. The applicant is also expected to clearly identify any proposed budget costs that would be incurred before charter approval is granted.

16) Why does the grant require disclosure of costs incurred before charter approval?

The synopsis indicates this is meant to make the approval status transparent and to ensure the proposed budget and timeline are credible and compliant.

17) What is the listing or identifier for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed as ED GRANTS 052220 002 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

18) What was the original closing date?

The synopsis lists an original closing date of June 19, 2020.

19) Are award amounts, award ceilings, or the expected number of awards provided here?

Not in the excerpt provided. The synopsis notes that key award details (such as award ceiling and expected number of awards) are not included in the excerpt and that applicants should rely on the official Federal Register notice for complete information.

20) What submission or formatting rules apply to this competition?

The synopsis directs applicants to the Department's "Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs" (published February 13, 2019) for standardized requirements, including how to obtain and submit an application and how to follow federal submission and formatting rules.

21) What is the practical purpose of the state-based eligibility rules?

As described, the practical effect is that the Department is trying to avoid duplicating funding pathways and is directing developers to the most appropriate source of CSP support depending on what CSP funding is already operating in a given state.

22) What kinds of activities does CSP support according to the description?

The synopsis describes support for planning, program design, and initial implementation, along with broader goals like evaluation of charter impacts, sharing effective practices, encouraging facilities support, and promoting stronger charter authorizing practices. Specific allowable costs and activities would be defined in the official application notice and related instructions referenced in the synopsis.