The California Department of Education (CDE) has released the Request for Applications for the 2024-25 Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP) to support planning and implementation of new charter schools and replication and expansion of high-quality charter schools. For 2024–25, the CDE has an approved pipeline and budget to award approximately nine start-up subgrants.
Base grant awards are for a maximum of $300,000 to $800,000 over three years depending on the grant type. Supplemental grant awards of up to $200,000 are available for grantee schools that serve higher proportions of English Learners or Students with Disabilities than district or state averages or that offer Career Technical Education (CTE) course sequences. Supplemental grant awards of up to $100,000 are available for grantee schools that partner to share innovative best practices or that meet certain minimum enrollment thresholds. Applicants can receive one priority point if the proposed school site will be located in a district with fewer than five charter schools or a county with fewer than ten charter schools.
Interested applicants can register for the informational webinar on Thursday, May 1 from 10:00-11:30 AM. Intent to Apply forms are due May 16, and applications are due June 24. CSDC strongly advises applicants to carefully review the grant program, and, in drafting applications, to rigorously attend to the grant-scoring rubric.
Peer Grant Reviewers Sought; Applications Due May 23
Additionally, the CDE seeks experienced charter school developers, governing board members, operators, and authorizers to evaluate subgrant applications. If selected, peer reviewers must be available during the review period from June 30 to July 25, 2025. Applicants must submit the Peer Review Application, including the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Provisions, by May 23, 2025, to PCSGP@cde.ca.gov.
