The purpose of the CSP is to increase national understanding of the charter school model by expanding the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the Nation; providing financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools; and evaluating the effects of charter schools, including their effects on students, student academic achievement, staff, and parents.
The purpose of the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools (Replication and Expansion) competition (CFDA 84.282M) is to award grants to eligible applicants to enable them to replicate or expand high-quality charter schools with demonstrated records of success, including success in increasing student academic achievement. Eligible applicants may use their grant funds to expand the enrollment of one or more existing charter schools by substantially increasing the number of available seats per school or to open one or more new charter schools that are based on the charter school model for which the eligible applicant has presented evidence of success.
For FY15, there were two absolute priorities, three competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority.
Absolute Priorities:
- Absolute Priority 1 - Experience Operating or Managing High-Quality Charter Schools - for projects that will provide for the replication or expansion of high-quality charter schools by applicants that currently operate or manage more than one high-quality charter school.
- Absolute Priority 2 - Low-Income Demographic - To meet this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that at least 60 percent of all students in the charter schools it currently operates or manages are individuals from low-income families.
Competitive Priorities:
Competitive Preference Priority 1 - Serving High-Need Students - (0, 1, 4, or 5 points) - for projects that will serve high-need students through one of the methods:
- Supporting Students Who are Members of Federally Recognized Indian Tribes
- School Improvement ; or
- Promise Zones (0 or 1 point)
Competitive Preference Priority 2 - Promoting Diversity (0 or 3 points) - for applicants that demonstrate a record of (in the schools they currently operate or manage) as well as an intent to continue (in schools that they will be creating or substantially expanding under this grant), taking active measures to:
- Promote student diversity, including racial and ethnic diversity, or avoid racial isolation;
- Serve students with disabilities at a rate that is at least comparable to the rate at which these students are served in public schools in the surrounding area; and
- Serve English learners at a rate that is at least comparable to the rate at which these students are served in public schools in the surrounding area.
Competitive Preference Priority 3 - Novice Applicant (0 or 2 points) - for applicants that qualify as novice applicants.
Invitational Priority - Rigorous Evaluation - The Secretary is particularly interested in funding applications that demonstrate that the applicant is currently conducting, or will conduct, a rigorous independent evaluation of the applicant’s charter schools, or specific practices within those charter schools, such as professional development practices (e.g., teacher coaching or leadership training) through a quasi- experimental design study or randomized controlled trial that will, if well implemented, meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards.
In accordance with the Final Priorities for this program, a grantee may use up to 20 percent of grant funds for initial operational costs associated with the expansion or improvement of the grantee’s oversight or management of its charter schools, provided that: (i) the specific charter schools being created or substantially expanded under the grant are the intended beneficiaries of such expansion or improvement, and (ii) such expansion or improvement is intended to improve the grantee’s ability to manage or oversee the charter schools created or substantially expanded under the grant.