California Partnership Academies (CPA)
The CPA model is a three-year program (grades ten-twelve) structured as a school-within-a-school. Academies incorporate integrated academic and career technical education, business partnerships, mentoring, and internships.The California Partnership Academies (CPA) per California Education Code (EC) sections 54690-54697
represent a high school reform movement that is focused on smaller learning communities with a career theme. Academy components include rigorous academics and career technical education within a career focus, a committed team of teachers, and active business and post-secondary partnerships.
In addition to EC sections 54690–54697, the Green Technology Partnership Academies (formerly known as SBX 1-1) must adhere to EC Section 54750
.
Overview & Guidelines
- Program Overview
- Grant and Funding Information
- Expenditure Guidelines
Fiscal Timeline
Required reporting dates for CPA grant funding.
2026-27 CPA Grant Fiscal Timeline
Grant Period: July 1, 2026 - December 31, 2027 (18 months)
| Timeframe | Timeline |
|---|---|
Spring 2026 |
2026-27 Letter of Intent (LOI) is completed online via the Program Grant Management System (PGMS) reporting platform. The LOI identifies if the local educational agency (LEA) wants to continue or discontinue CPA funding and requires signatures from the school principal and the district superintendent. Grant award amounts are determined by the number of fundable students reported in the 2025-26 California Partnership Academies Annual Report (CAPAAR). See California Code, EDC 54691
LOI Due Date: June 30, 2026 |
Summer 2026 |
State Budget Approval: Grants are contingent on the inclusion of CPA funds in the state budget and will be processed when the state budget is approved and signed by the Governor. |
Fall 2026 |
2026-27 Proposed Budget is submitted on the PGMS platform. This is a spending plan for the expenditures of CPA grant funds, as well as district and business matching funds. All budgeted purchases must comply with CPA Expenditure Guidelines. Budget Due Date: September 30, 2026 |
Fall 2026 |
2026-27 Grant Award Notification (GAN/ao-400) letters are processed and distributed to the district superintendent via email. GANs are to be returned to the California Department of Education (CDE) within 10 days of receipt of the ao-400. |
Winter 2026-27 |
Payments
|
Spring 2027 |
2026-27 CA Partnership Academies Annual Report (CAPAAR) is submitted on the PGMS platform. This report determines funding allocations for the 2027-28 fiscal year and compliance with CPA Education Code (EC) requirements. The report must be submitted by the CPA coordinator and approved by the school principal and superintendent to receive continued funding. Failure to submit the report will result in discontinuation of funding. Due Date: June 30, 2027 |
Spring - Winter 2027-28 |
2026-27 Expenditure Report is submitted on the PGMS platform. The expenditure report provides itemized descriptions of all purchases using CPA grant funds, as well as district and business matching funds. All funds must be expended by the end of the grant period. Failure to spend all grant funds or failure to submit an expenditure report will result in invoicing from the CDE. Due date: January 31, 2028 |
Additional Key Dates for CPAs during the 2026-2027 School Year
- February 2, 2027: 2025-26 Annual Expenditure Report due online via PGMS (platform opened April 2026)
- March 14-16, 2027: Educating for Careers - Annual conference at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento. Per grant requirements, three key CPA staff members are required to attend.
Academy Directory
California Partnership Academies Directory (XLSX; Updated Sep-2025)
Reference
2025-26 CPA Grant Fiscal Timeline
Grant Period: July 1, 2025 - December 31, 2026
| Month | Timeline |
|---|---|
| March - April 2025 | 2025-26 Letter of Intent (LOI) is distributed to all California Partnership Academies (CPA). The LOI identifies if the local educational agency (LEA) wants to continue or discontinue CPA funding and requires signatures from the school principal and the district superintendent.
Grant award amounts are determined by the number of fundable students reported in the 2024-25 California Partnership Academies Annual Report (CAPAAR). See California Code, EDC 54691
Due Date: April 15, 2025 |
| July 2025 | State Budget Approval: Grants are contingent on the inclusion of CPA funds in the state budget and will be processed when the state budget is approved and signed by the Governor. |
| August - September 2025 | 2025-26 Grant Award Notification (GAN/ao-400) letters are processed and distributed to the district superintendent via email. GANs are to be returned to the California Department of Education (CDE) within 10 days of receipt of the ao-400. CPA funding allocations are based on the number of students that qualify for funding as reported in the 2024-25 CAPAAR report. |
| August - September 2025 | 2025-26 Proposed Budget is submitted using the Budget Builder on the PGMS platform. This is a spending plan for the expenditures of CPA grant funds, as well as district and business matching funds. All budgeted purchases must comply with CPA Expenditure Guidelines.
Budget Builder opens: May 2025 Due Date: September 30, 2025 |
| September - October 2025 | Payment 1: 2025-26 Annual Grant - Payment is 50 percent of the grant amount. |
| November - December 2025 | Payment 2: 2025-26 Annual Grant - Payment is 50 percent of the grant amount. |
| April - June 2026 | 2025-26 CAPAAR is submitted on the PGMS platform. This report determines funding allocations for the 2026-27 fiscal year and compliance with CPA EC requirements. The report must be submitted by the CPA coordinator and approved by the school principal and district superintendent to receive continued funding. Failure to submit the report by the due date will result in discontinuation of funding. CAPAAR Opens: April 2026 Due Date: June 30, 2026 |
| April 2026 - February 2027 | 2025-26 End-of-Project (EOP) Expenditure Report is submitted on the PGMS platform. The EOP is an itemized grant expenditure report with descriptions of all activities or purchases. All funds must be expended on or before the end of the grant period. Failure to submit an EOP will result in billing from the CDE for the entire amount of funds paid. EOP Expenditure Report opens: April 2026 Due date: February 2, 2027 |