Charter School Numbers

California Education Code Section 47602 requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to assign a charter school number to a charter school that has been approved by a local entity in the chronological order in which it was received. Each number assigned corresponds to a single petition that identifies a charter school that will operate within its geographic and site limitations. This numbering system ensures that the state stays within a statutory cap on the total number of charter schools authorized to operate within California.

Section Menu

• Form and Instructions
• Submission and Next Steps
• Additional Information and Reporting Requirements

Form and Instructions

To request a charter school number for a newly-approved charter petition, authorizing local educational agencies (LEAs) should complete the Charter School Number Form (PDF; Revised 27-Sep-2021).

Instructions for completing the form are available at Charter School Number Form Instructions.

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Submission and Next Steps

Submit the completed and signed Charter School Number Form as well as the supporting documentation specified below to the Charter Schools Division (CSD) via email at charters@cde.ca.gov:

1. Copy of the authorizing LEA’s board meeting minutes showing approval of the charter school (minutes must include the charter term for which the charter school was approved)
2. Copy of the approved charter petition
3. Copy of all charter petition appendices and attachments (including the charter school's financial and operational plan, and meaningfully interested signatures)
4. Cover letter signed by the superintendent of the authorizing LEA that provides an explanation for the action identified under Section 1 of the Charter School Number Form

If any of the aforementioned documents are too large to be submitted via email, contact the CSD and alternate upload arrangements will be made.

If the Charter School Number Form and additional documentation cannot be provided electronically, mail all documents (printed back to back) to the CSD at the following address:

California Department of Education
Charter Schools Division
Attention: Charter School Number
1430 N Street, Suite 5401
Sacramento, CA 95814

The below table lists the deadlines to submit the Charter School Number Form in order to receive a charter school number from the SBE. All documentation indicated above must be received by 4 p.m. on the dates listed under the Deadline to Submit Charter School Number Form column:

*Should the deadline to submit the Charter School Number Form fall on a state-celebrated holiday, the deadline to submit this form will be the next business day.

Note: SBE meeting agendas are available at Current & Past Agendas. Agendas are posted ten (10) days prior to the actual SBE meeting date. A specific agenda item is dedicated to the assignment of charter school numbers and is typically grouped with the consent items.

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Additional Information and Reporting Requirements

County-District-School Code

A charter school number must be assigned by the SBE before a County-District-School (CDS) code can be issued to the charter school. A CDS code may be applied for one month prior to the SBE meeting in which a charter school number will be received. Detailed information as well as the application for a CDS code is located at County-District-School Administration.

Reporting and Funding Deadlines

New charter schools that start instruction by September 30 and that are requesting a charter school number at either the July or September SBE meeting must complete the following steps in order to receive advance funding:

• Obtain a CDS code
• File a Pupil Estimates for New or Significantly Expanding Charters (PENSEC) Report (for approval at the July SBE meeting)
• File a Charter 20-Day Report (for approval at the July or September SBE meeting)

Visit Charter School Funding for information about state general purpose and state and federal categorical funding to charter school authorizers and administrators.

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