Colorado Charter Schools Program (CCSP)

The Colorado Charter Schools Program (CCSP) provides a grant and technical assistance for up to 4-years to new and expanding charter schools. The Colorado Department of Education was awarded $55 million to administer annual sub-grant competitions from 2018 through 2023.

Colorado Charter Schools Program Details:

Application & Renewal Process

Technical Assistance

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.