2025 Charter Schools Program Start-Up Grants

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Charter Center is accepting Federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) Start-Up Grant applications. These grants provide federal financial start-up assistance for planning, program design, and initial implementation of new charter schools operated by an eligible local education agency (LEA). This program aligns with the MDE's mission to increase the number of high-quality and sustainable charter schools, thereby serving more students and improving academic achievement for all, with a particular focus on disadvantaged, underserved, and at-risk students. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are developing and newly operational charter schools in Minnesota. The program aims to increase student access, particularly for traditionally underserved students, to high-quality public charter schools in the state. Impact goals include improving academic achievement for all students served by these schools. The program prioritizes facilitating student access to charter schools through start-up and expansion/replication subgrants, providing technical assistance and sharing best practices to improve academic and operational performance, and supporting charter school authorizer best practices through evaluation and technical assistance. The expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in the number of high-quality and sustainable charter schools in Minnesota, an increased number of students served, and improved academic achievement for students, especially those who are disadvantaged, underserved, and/or at-risk. The MDE's strategic priorities are evident in the grant's objectives, which focus on expanding access to quality education, enhancing school performance, and strengthening authorizer practices. The MDE's theory of change appears to be that by providing financial start-up assistance and ongoing technical support to new and developing charter schools, they can foster a robust ecosystem of high-quality educational options. This, in turn, is expected to lead to greater student access, improved academic outcomes, and ultimately, a more equitable educational landscape for all Minnesota students. The maximum three-year grant award may not exceed $2,000,000, and allowable activities include professional development, hiring staff, acquiring supplies and educational materials, facility repairs and maintenance (excluding construction), and one-time startup costs for transportation and other needs. Eligibility is open to developing and new charter schools not currently funded under a Minnesota federal CSP Grant Project, governed by a school board with at least one licensed teacher, and meeting Minnesota Statutes for charter school formation or being in their first two years of operation.