Who May Apply: (by category) State Education Agencies

Who May Apply: (specifically) SEAs in states with a state statute specifically authorizing the establishment of charter schools may apply. After SEAs receive awards, they make competitive grants to charter schools. If an eligible SEA chooses not to compete for PCSP funding, then charter schools in that state may apply directly to the secretary.

(a) State educational agencies (SEAs) in States with a specific State statute authorizing the establishment of charter schools may apply for funding. The Secretary awards grants to SEAs to enable them to conduct charter school programs in their States. SEAs use their PCSP funds to award sub-grants to "eligible applicants," as defined in this notice, for planning, program design, and initial implementation of a charter school; and to support the dissemination of information about, including successful practices in, charter schools. A charter school may apply to an SEA for funds to carry out dissemination activities, whether or not the charter school has applied for or received funds under the PCSP for planning or implementation, if the charter school has been in operation for at least three consecutive years and has demonstrated overall success, including--

1. Substantial progress in improving students achievement;
2. High levels of parent satisfaction; and
3. The management and leadership necessary to overcome initial start-up problems and establish a thriving, financially viable charter school.

(b) Non-SEA eligible applicants may apply for funding directly from the U.S. Department of Education (Department) if the SEA in the State elects not to participate in the PCSP or does not have an application approved under the program. An "eligible applicant" is defined as a developer that has applied to an authorized public chartering authority to operate a charter school and has provided to that authority adequate and timely notice, and a copy of its PCSP application, except that the Secretary or the SEA may waive these requirements in the case of a pre-charter planning grant. If an SEA's application is approved in this competition, applications received from non-SEA eligible applicants in that State will be returned to the applicants. In such a case, the non-SEA eligible applicant should contact the SEA for information related to the State's subgrant competition.

Note: The Department plans to hold separate competitions for non-SEA eligible applicants under CFDA # 84.282B and # 84.282C.