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2026-27 Public Charter Schools Grant Program Start-Up Subgrant

Grantor:
CA Department of Education
Departmental Grant ID:
7552
Portal ID:
171870
Status:
Forecasted
Open Date:
06/12/26 - 08/14/26
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
 | 
Categories:

Details

Purpose:

The Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP) is a discretionary grant program administered by the California Department of Education, on behalf of the State Board of Education, through funding awarded by the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP). CSP grants awards to State Entities that, in turn, award subgrants to eligible applicants for the purpose of opening new charter schools and replicating and expanding high-quality charter schools.

Description:

Effective October 1, 2024, California was awarded a $93 million federal CSP grant and plans to distribute 70 PCSGP Start-Up Subgrants to new, replicating, and expanding charter schools.

For fiscal year 2026-27, California has an approved pipeline and budget to award approximately 26 subgrants. The actual number and type of subgrants awarded during each Request for Applications (RFA) competition may vary based on demand. If all authorized awards are not approved for funding, California may open additional RFA competition events for new applicants until allocated funds have been awarded. 

The submission of the Intent to Apply Form is recommended by July 20, 2026. The Intent to Apply Form can be found on the California Department of Education web site by using the link provided in this posting. Please submit the Intent to Apply Form by email to PCSGP@cde.ca.gov. 

There are three PCSGP Start-Up Subgrants offered through this RFA: New School (Planning and Implementation), Replication, and Expansion. A newly established or conversion classroom-based charter school may be eligible for a Planning, Implementation, or Replication subgrant provided that the school did not begin serving students prior to July 1, 2024. An established charter school may be eligible for an Expansion subgrant.

PCSGP applications are reviewed by peer evaluators and awarded to school developers to assist in the development and initial operations of newly established/conversion/expanding charter schools. 

A developer, as defined by Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) section 4310(5), must have an approved charter petition from an authorized public chartering authority by the due date of the RFA. If the charter school has an approved charter petition, but is not yet serving students, the applicant must include proof of charter petition approval as part of the PCSGP application. All applicants must submit proof the applicant has notified the authorizer of their intent to apply for PCSGP start-up subgrant funds.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency

The eligibility requirements described below are not exhaustive. Applicants should review the entire Request for Applications (RFA), including all eligibility requirements, definitions, assurances, and submission requirements, to determine eligibility for funding.

PCSGP applicants must be a non-profit entity or Local Education Agency at the time of application submission. Individuals and for-profit entities will not meet eligibility requirements.

Eligible Geographies:

Supplemental funding has been structured to encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods pursuant to state law, provide parents/guardians and students with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system pursuant to state law, and provide additional support for targeted student groups and high-cost programs.

Important Dates

The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
10/21/26
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
10/01/26 - 09/30/29
Anticipated Open Date
06/12/26 - 08/14/26

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$33,666,515
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
$250,000 – $1,900,000
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
No
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • Federal

Funding Source Notes:

The PCSGP is a subgrant program funded by the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP), authorized under Title IV, Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (20 United States Code [U.S.C.] 7221–7221j.

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Reimbursement(s)

Funding Method Notes:

PCSGP Start-Up Subgrant base funding levels vary according to subgrant type and the proposed instructional type, based on the percentage of classroom-based instructional time required at a physical school site. In addition to the base funding level, a charter school may qualify for additional supplemental funding if they meet specified criteria, which may further support charter school start-up funding needs, over a 36-month performance period.

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Grant Program Office, 1-916-322-6029, PCSGP@cde.ca.gov

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