Charter School Program Grant

The Charter School Program Grant administered by the Texas Education Agency is a federally funded initiative designed to support the expansion and development of high-quality charter schools across the state of Texas. TEA operates as a pass-through entity for funds received from the U.S. Department of Education under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act. Through this program, TEA provides subgrants to eligible entities such as open-enrollment charter schools, school districts, and other qualifying organizations to facilitate the planning and implementation of new charter campuses or the replication of proven high-quality models. The primary purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance for planning, program design, and early implementation phases of charter schools. The grant specifically prioritizes initiatives that aim to improve academic outcomes for educationally disadvantaged students. Funding may be used for a wide range of startup and preparatory activities, including personnel costs during planning, one-time equipment purchases, facility-related startup expenses, professional development, and systems implementation. However, funds are restricted from being used for ongoing operational costs beyond the initial startup window, construction, real estate acquisition, or non-instructional expenses such as food or extracurricular programming. Eligibility for the grant is limited to specific types of charter school operators. These include open-enrollment charter schools designated as high-quality campuses by the Texas commissioner of education, as well as campus charter schools authorized by local school boards under Texas Education Code Chapter 12. Applicants must meet strict criteria demonstrating academic performance, operational compliance, and the ability to replicate successful educational models. Additional requirements include submission of multiple mandatory attachments, including documentation of charter authorization, board approval, and detailed program narratives. Failure to provide these required documents may result in disqualification. The application process is competitive and requires submission through TEA’s designated channels, specifically via email to the competitive grants office. Applicants must complete a standardized application package that includes narrative responses, attachments, and compliance assurances. Applications are reviewed by external evaluators and scored based on established criteria, including program design quality, alignment with state and federal objectives, and the ability to demonstrate measurable academic improvement. A minimum score threshold must be met for consideration, and awards are distributed in rank order until funds are exhausted. The grant timeline begins with the release of the application in early December, followed by a structured period for applicant questions, a webinar for guidance, and a final application deadline in early February. After submission, applications undergo a competitive review period before awards are announced in late March. The grant period begins in April and runs through the end of September for the initial funding cycle, although the broader program allows for a longer performance period of up to 60 months, including planning and implementation phases. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this grant, making it fully federally funded and accessible to eligible applicants without additional financial burden. However, the program enforces strict compliance requirements, including financial accountability, reporting obligations, and adherence to federal and state regulations. Grantees must submit expenditure reports and may be subject to manual review of all funding requests to ensure alignment with allowable uses. Contact for the program is available through designated TEA staff, including a program contact and a funding contact within the Competitive Grants Unit. Applicants are encouraged to participate in informational webinars and review all program guidelines thoroughly before submission. Overall, this grant represents a significant opportunity for qualified charter school operators to secure funding for expansion and innovation in educational delivery within Texas.

Ensure all required attachments are included; Align SMART goals with measurable outcomes; Demonstrate strong academic impact and operational readiness; Meet minimum scoring threshold of 49 points