FY 2017 Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant Competition Winners
Georgia Charter Schools Association congratulates the 13 charter schools that were awarded a Planning, Implementation or Dissemination Grant in the FY 2017 Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant Competition. The Georgia Department of Education selected Amana Academy, Tapestry Public Charter School, Furlow Charter School, Scintilla Charter Academy, The Kindezi School at Old Fourth Ward, FAST (Fulton Academy of Science and Technology), Liberty Tech Charter School, DREAM Academy, International Charter School of Atlanta, SAIL (School for Arts- Infused Learning, Genesis Innovation Academy for Boys, Susie King Taylor Community Charter School and Foothills Education Charter High School as recipients of an FY 2017 CSP Grant. The department plans to award a total of more than $8.6 million dollars this fiscal year.
The Federal Charter Schools Program assists state educational agencies with the expansion of high-quality charter schools available to students. Georgia received more than $46 million in grant funds for fiscal years 2017-2019.
According to federal guidelines, schools can only use Planning Grant funding for costs associated with the planning of a new charter school. Implementation Grant funding pays for initial costs associated with opening a charter school, but cannot be used for facilities, teacher salaries, or general operating expenses. Schools can use Dissemination Grant funding for costs associated with the preparation and dissemination of best practices that promote increased student achievement.
FY 2018 Charter Schools State Facilities Grant Recipients
The Georgia Department of Education has announced that KIPP West Atlanta Young Scholars Academy (WAYS), Charles R. Drew Elementary Academy, KIPP Strive Academy, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate, KIPP South Fulton Academy, The Museum School of Avondale Estates, The Kindezi Schools, Charles R. Drew Junior and Senior Academy, KIPP Vision and Baconton Community Charter School have been selected as recipients of the FY 2018 Charter Schools State Facilities Grant.
A total of $1.4 million in grants funding was awarded to existing charter schools on a competitive basis. Those who receive the grants can only use the funding for expenses associated with the purchase, lease, renovation or construction of school facilities and the purchase vehicles to transport students to and from the charter school.
Charter schools eligible for the grant had to open no later than 2014, Beat the Odds in 2015-2016 and file an audit report for its Georgia nonprofit corporation for FY 2016 without an “Adverse or Disclaimer Opinion” or “No Opinion” in its audit report by the November 1, 2016 deadline. They also have to submit Facility Grant applications explaining their proposed services, populations, and need, along with a scoring rubric, Budget Worksheets itemizing proposed facility expenditures and required affidavits.
