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About CSP

History & Overview

What Is the Charter Schools Program?

Congress established the Charter Schools Program (CSP) in 1995 to support the development of charter schools in states that had charter statutes. CSP was established under Title V, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), specifically as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). It provides federal funding to improve educational options through charter schools.

Purpose of CSP

CSP grants aim to create, expand, and replicate high-quality charter schools across the nation. By providing grants for new school startup and implementation, replication and expansion of existing high-quality schools, and access to facilities funding opportunities, CSP grants fill a resource void that has otherwise not been met for the charter sector.

CSP's purpose is to:

  • Support innovation in public education to prepare students for success
  • Fund the planning and startup of new charter schools
  • Expand the number of high-quality charter schools nationwide
  • Measure impact and share best practices with other public schools
  • Encourage states to provide fair facilities funding for charter schools
  • Strengthen charter school authorizing through oversight, accountability, and evaluation
  • Promote transparency and quality in all charter school authorizers

CSP has evolved since 1995 to adapt to the charter sector's changing needs. Today, CSP operates six different grant programs to support emerging and expanding charter sectors across the country.

CSP Grant Programs

CSP runs federal grant programs designed to strengthen and grow the charter school sector:

  • State Entity (SE) Grants – For state entities to award subgrants to eligible applicants in their state to open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools and to replicate and expand high-quality charter schools.
  • CMO Grants – For Charter Management Organizations (CMOs) seeking to replicate or expand one or more high-quality charter schools.
  • Developer Grants – For charter school developers to enable them to open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools or to replicate or expand high-quality charter schools in states that do not currently have a CSP SE grant.
  • State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants (SFIG) – For states to establish and enhance or administer "per-pupil facilities aid" for charter schools.
  • Credit Enhancement (CE) Grants – For eligible entities that demonstrate innovative methods of helping charter schools address the cost of acquiring, constructing, and renovating facilities by enhancing the availability of loans and bond financing.
  • Model Development and Dissemination (MDD) Grants – For eligible organizations to develop and broadly disseminate information about innovative, effective, and high-quality charter school models.

Each year, CSP publishes notices in the Federal Register inviting applications for these grants.

Impact Since 1995

Since its launch, CSP has helped drive the growth and improvement of charter schools nationwide.

CSP impact since 1995

A History of CSP

1995

Congress established CSP in 1995 to make sure states had access to funds to support high-quality charter schools. After the initial success of the state program, Congress periodically revised CSP statute to expand its reach and avenues of support.

2002

In 2002, CSP was modified to include direct grants to charter schools in states without CSP grants and to community finance organizations to support access to facilities.

2004

Additional state grants for facilities financing were introduced in 2004.

2010

Another expansion in 2010 provided grant funds to nonprofit charter management organizations for the replication and expansion of high-quality models and created an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to develop or disseminate charter sector resources.

2015

The CSP authorizing statute expanded significantly after ESSA was signed into law in 2015. In 2017, CSP expanded the number of direct-to-school grant opportunities and reframed the national leadership activities to dissemination. New grants became available in 2017.

2025

The Department launched the Model Development and Dissemination (MDD) Grant Program, introducing a new opportunity for organizations to create and broadly share information about innovative, high-quality charter school models.

State Entity (SE) Grants

For state entities to award subgrants to eligible applicants in their state to open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools and to replicate and expand high-quality charter schools.

CMO Grants

For Charter Management Organizations (CMOs) seeking to replicate or expand one or more high-quality charter schools.

Developer Grants

For charter school developers to enable them to open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools or to replicate or expand high-quality charter schools in states that do not currently have a CSP SE grant.

State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants (SFIG)

For states to establish and enhance or administer "per-pupil facilities aid" for charter schools.

Credit Enhancement (CE) Grants

For eligible entities that demonstrate innovative methods of helping charter schools address the cost of acquiring, constructing, and renovating facilities by enhancing the availability of loans and bond financing.

Model Development and Dissemination (MDD) Grants

For eligible organizations to develop and broadly disseminate information about innovative, effective, and high-quality charter school models.