Colorado Charter Schools Program (CCSP)

The Colorado Department of Education was awarded $55 million to administer annual sub-grant competitions from 2018 through 2023. Through the Schools of Choice Unit, CCSP grant funds are awarded to eligible charter schools across the state. In addition to providing up to 4-years of startup funding for these new, expanding, and replicating high-quality charter schools, sub-grantees participate in well thought-out training and technical assistance events throughout the duration of the grant period.         

Colorado Charter Schools Program Details:

• 2022-2023 CCSP Grant Application Process and Required Documents
• 2022-2023 CCSP Grant Renewal Process and Required Documents

Sub-grant Reports & Forms

• Final Grant Report Template (For Implementation Year 2 Schools in 2021-2022 not eligible for Performance Incentive Year)
• Performance Incentive Year Guidance (For Implementation Year 2 Schools in 2021-2022 invited to apply)
• Progress Report Template (For Implementation Year 2 Schools in 2022-2023)
• CCSP Grants Fiscal Interim/Annual Financial Report Submission Form (Smartsheet)
• CCSP Grant Budget Revision Submission Form (Smartsheet)

Technical Assistance

• 2022-2023 CCSP Grant and Training Calendar (pdf)
• Technical Assistance Requirements and Resources
• Technical Assistance and Training Overview (pdf)

Eligibility

An existing or prospective charter school may be eligible if they demonstrate they

1) Meet the federal definitions of a "charter school" and "developer"

2) Have been approved by a charter school authorizer (LEA), qualifying as one of the following:

a. New Charter School

b. Replication of a High Quality Charter School

c. Expansion of a High Quality Charter School

Eligible Expenses

CCSP grants may be awarded for reasonable, one-off expenses associated with planning, design, and implementation of a new school or significant expansion project in the form of a 3-year grant for charter schools applying in the year before the launch of a new school or significant-expansion project, or in the form of a 2-year grant for those applying the year of a project launch.  Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

• Planning period hiring and compensation
• Supplies, training, equipment (including technology) and educational materials
• Researched based professional development costs
• One time start up costs associated with providing transportation to students to and from school
• Necessary minor facilities repair (not including construction)

The Colorado Department of Education's Schools of Choice office administers the Colorado Charter Schools Program through a federal Charter School Program [Title V, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (P.L. 107-110)] grant for the state. The USDOE awarded CDE this grant in 2018.

Other Resources

• CCSP Funding Awards
• Charter School Support Initiative (CSSI) Information 
• CSP Nonregulatory Guidance
• e-CFR 200 (formerly EDGAR)
• Weighted Lottery Factsheet