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Public Charter Schools Grant Program

Information on the current cycle of the California Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP).

The PCSGP is a sub-grant program funded by the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) External link opens in new window or tab..

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Charter Authorizer Support Initiative (CASI)

Information regarding the Charter Authorizer Support Initiative (CASI).


Regional Technical Assistance and Coaching (RTAC)

Information regarding the Regional Technical Assistance and Coaching (RTAC) program.


PCSGP Resources and Additional Information

Information and resources pertaining to the PCSGP is available at PCSGP Administration, Resources, and Support.


PCSGP 2020–24 Grant Cycle

The PCSGP is a discretionary grant program administered by the California Department of Education (CDE) on behalf of the State Board of Education (SBE). California was awarded approximately $41 million in grant funds for 2020–23, and approved for a no cost extension for 2023–24. States awarded these federal funds distribute them in sub-grants to charter school developers to assist in the development and initial operations of newly established or conversion charter schools as well as to assist in the expansion and replication of high-quality charter schools. Additionally, the PCSGP allows the CDE to award contracts and sub-grants to external parties to assist with providing technical assistance to charter schools, non-charter schools, and charter school authorizers in California.

To stay informed on important and time sensitive information for the California charter school community, you may sign up for the Charter-Schools Listserv. This listserv is an open listserv with no membership restrictions and is maintained by the Lyris Listserv team in coordination with Charter Schools Division staff.

Open Sub-Grant Competitions

Information on new sub-grant competitions is posted as it becomes available.

2023–24 PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grants

The PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grant provides funding for the planning and initial implementation of newly established or conversion charter schools, as well as the replication and expansion of high-quality charter schools. Start-Up sub-grants for planning, implementation, and replication are eligible for up to $600,000. Expansion sub-grants are eligible for up to $300,000 to charter schools that are adding new grade levels or significantly increasing enrollment. The PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grant serves California's public charter schools by providing startup and initial operating capital to assist schools in establishing or expanding high-quality, high-performing charter school operations for California students and their families.

Completed Sub-Grant Competitions

The information and links for the grants below are provided for informational purposes only. The application period for these grants has closed.

2022–23 PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grants for Planning and Implementation

The PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grant provides funding for the planning and initial implementation of newly established or conversion charter schools. Start-Up sub-grants for planning and implementation are eligible for up to $600,000. The PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grant serves California's public charter schools by providing startup and initial operating capital to assist schools in establishing high-quality, high-performing charter school operations for California students and their families.

2021–23 PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grants

The PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grant provides funding for the planning and initial implementation of newly established or conversion charter schools, as well as the replication and expansion of high-quality charter schools. Start-Up sub-grants for planning, implementation, and replication are eligible for up to $600,000. Expansion sub-grants are eligible for up to $300,000 to charter schools that are adding new grade levels or significantly increasing enrollment. The PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grant serves California's public charter schools by providing startup and initial operating capital to assist schools in establishing or expanding high-quality, high-performing charter school operations for California students and their families.

2021–23B PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grants
2021–23A PCSGP Start-Up Sub-Grants
PCSGP Regional Technical Assistance and Coaching Sub-Grant

The PCSGP Regional Technical Assistance and Coaching (RTAC) Sub-Grant provides up to three sub-grants, not to exceed $431,333 per sub-grantee, to provide technical assistance and coaching throughout a region of California (North, Central, South). RTAC sub-grantees will recruit and facilitate multiple cohorts of charter school participants in Critical Friends Groups (CFG) professional learning communities to develop and improve high-quality schools; and provide best practices workshops for charter and non-charter schools, in order to improve academic achievement for all students in California.

PCSGP Best Practices Workshops Sub-Grant

The PCSGP Best Practices Workshops (BPW) Sub-Grant provides up to six sub-grants, not to exceed $694,000 total, to coordinate regional technical assistance workshops for charter and non-charter schools in order to improve academic achievement for all students in California. Technical assistance workshops will include presentations on targeted topics selected by the CDE such as college and career readiness, strategies to improve academic achievement for educationally disadvantaged students, distance learning and hybrid model programs, and fostering collaboration between charter and non-charter schools.

PCSGP Critical Friends Group Coach Sub-Grant

The PCSGP Critical Friends Group (CFG) Coach Sub-Grant provides up to five sub-grants, not to exceed $600,000 total, to individuals to be trained and serve as CFG Coaches. Critical Friends Group® training is provided by the National School Reform Faculty® and builds professional learning communities focused on solving problems and accomplishing goals set by its participants. Funds awarded to CFG Coach sub-grantees will be used to: train CFG Coaches, recruit charter schools for regional CFG communities, and engage their CFGs in discussions and site visits in order to increase the number of high-quality schools across the state.

PCSGP Charter School Authorizer Technical Assistance Providers Sub-Grant

The PCSGP Charter School Authorizer (CSA) Technical Assistance Providers (TAP) Sub-Grant provides up to two sub-grants, not to exceed $726,000 total, to external parties to provide technical assistance to charter school authorizers in California. Funds awarded to CSA TAP sub-grantees will be used to provide: technical assistance workshops to charter school authorizers related to best practices for reviewing charter petitions, renewal requests, and revocations; technical assistance workshops related to best practices for monitoring charter school performance; and assistance with the development and facilitation of a Rural Charter School Authorizer Network to manage charter school oversight responsibilities.

2020–21 PCSGP Planning, Implementation, Replication, and Expansion Sub-Grant

The PCSGP 2020–23 funds planning and implementation and replication (P/I/R), and expansion grants. The P/I/R grant provide grants of up to $600,000 to plan and implement new charter schools. It serves California's public charter schools by providing startup and initial operating capital to assist schools in establishing high quality, high performing charter school operations for California students and their families. The expansion grant provides grants to charter schools that are adding new grade levels or significantly increasing enrollment.

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PCSGP 2016–20 Grant Cycle Funding Results

The PCSGP 2016–20 grant cycle funded planning and implementation (P/I), replication, expansion, and dissemination grants. The P/I grant provided grants of up to $575,000 to plan and implement new charter schools. It serves California's public charter schools by providing startup and initial operating capital to assist schools in establishing high quality, high performing charter school operations for California students and their families. The expansion grant provided grants to charter schools adding new grade levels or significantly increasing enrollment, while the dissemination grant provided grants to charter schools to disseminate best practices likely to significantly improve academic achievement in California's K–12 public education system.

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Questions: PCSGP Office | PCSGPGeneral@cde.ca.gov | 916-322-6029 
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, October 17, 2023
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