The Federal Public Charter Schools Grant Program
Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the federal PCSP grant program?


The federal Public Charter Schools Program was amended in October 1998 by the Charter School Expansion Act of 1998 and in January 2001 by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title V, part B. The PCSP grant program provides support to charter schools for planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools. The intent of the program is to increase parent and student options among public schools and to give students more educational opportunities, resulting in higher student achievement.
The PCSP program awards grants to State Educational Agencies (SEAs) on a competitive basis. The SEAs then award subgrants to individual charter schools, also on a competitive basis. If a State elects not to participate in the PCSP program or is denied funding, an individual charter school that is eligible may apply directly to the U.S. Department of Education for a grant.

SEAs may use PCSP funds to award competitive subgrants to charter schools in the state.  Charter schools may use subgrant funds for post-award planning and program design (before the school opens) and for initial implementation activities (after the school opens).


3) For how long is a grant awarded?


PCSP grant funds may be used for post-award planning and program design activities for up to 18 months. Funds may be used for initial implementation activities for up to 24 months. Subgrants awarded to charter schools are for a period not to exceed 36 months total.


4) Are there different types of grants?


In Indiana, organizers who have an approved charter but have not opened a school may apply for subgrant funds to be used for post-award planning and program design activities. Generally, these funds are available up to 12 months before an actual school is opened, but may be available for up to 18 months.  Organizers of charter schools may utilize less than 12 months for planning if the amount of time between charter approval and the school opening to students is less than 12 months.  
Organizers who have a school that is open and operating and have previously received funds for planning may request continuation funds for implementation activities, lasting up to 24 months. Regardless of the amount of time spent for planning activities, the implementation portion of the grant may not exceed 24 months.  Organizers that have never before received funds for initial planning activities may apply for 24 months of implementation funding. Again, subgrant activities (including a combination of planning and implementation activities) may not exceed 36 months in total.


5) What is the difference between activities for “planning” and activities for “implementation”?


Federal statute defines allowable activities for planning as:

• Refinement of the desired educational results and of the methods for measuring progress toward achieving those results;
• Professional development of teachers and other staff who will work in the charter school.

Federal statute defines allowable activities for implementation as:

• Informing the community about the school;
• Acquiring necessary equipment and educational materials and supplies;
• Acquiring or developing curriculum materials; and
• Other initial operating costs that cannot be met from State or local sources.

Generally, planning activities are done after an organizer has received an approved charter, but before the school actually opens its doors. Implementation activities are usually done up to two months before a school opens its doors and in the first two years of the actual operation of a school.



6) What kind of activities can grant funds be used for?


Federal statute is very flexible in providing guidelines as to what kinds of activities funds can be used for. Grant awardees may choose to use funds within the parameters of the guidelines provided in Question 5. Some examples of allowable or recommended activities for planning might be:

• Development of the educational program
  • Example: Hiring a consultant or staff member to ensure that the curriculum is aligned to state academic standards.   
• Payment of consultants to help develop curriculum, assessment, policies, etc.
  • Example: Hiring consultants to work with the school’s board and school leader to develop the school handbook, including attendance policies, dress code, discipline policy, explanation of student due process, etc.  The consultant could also work with school leaders to develop guidelines for implementation.
• Development of teacher recruitment materials
  • Example: Advertisements for staff positions, development of recruitment brochures, presentation materials for teacher/job fairs.
• Costs associated with staff training and/or orientation
  • Examples: Teacher camp, subject specific professional development (language arts, math, special education, etc.), team building activities, school or EMO specific training, or board development.
• Conference attendance
  • Examples: National Charter Schools Conference, Curriculum or School Model conferences, and Department of Education Conferences (High School Redesign, Student Services Summer Conference, etc.)
• Technology related to the planning process
  • Examples: Specific equipment staff needs to know how to use before the school opens (Mac computers as opposed to PCs), school office computers, printers, copiers, phone lines, etc.  NOTE: Equipment purchases are for staff use only.  Student equipment is not allowed.
• Personnel salaries BEFORE the school opens
  • Examples: School leader and office staff salaries.  Salaries are not an allowable expense after the school opens.

Some examples of allowable or recommended activities for implementation might be:

• Professional development of teachers and other staff
• Refinement of educational goals and measurable objectives
  • Example: Contracting to evaluate fall diagnostic NWEA testing to inform and direct instruction.
• Acquiring educational equipment and curriculum materials
  • Textbooks, workbooks, library materials, student/staff computers and peripheral equipment, SMART boards, etc.
• Purchase of classroom furniture, whiteboards, pull down screens, etc.
  • Examples: Student and staff desks, chairs, bookshelves, maps, globes, etc.
• Development of program and school evaluation strategies and materials.
• Payment of consultants performing work directly related to the program and operation of the charter school
• Initial start-up costs not covered by state or local funding sources.
  • Note: Salaries of any type are not permitted after the school opens.  Salaries are considered an on-going operational expense and are not allowable expenses for implementation funds.

7) Are there any activities that grant funds CANNOT be used for?


Federal and state statutes prohibit the use of grant funds for construction, facilities acquisition, and major renovations or alterations to the charter school building. In addition, grant funds may NOT be used for:

• Establishment of contingency or petty cash funds
• Purchase of non-instructional office furniture
• Recurring operational expenses such as teacher or administrator salaries, facility leasing, and utilities.

8) Is every applicant for a planning grant entitled to receive an award?


NO. By federal law, the PCSP grant is not an entitlement program. It is a discretionary/competitive program.

9) How much is usually awarded for the planning and implementation grants?

Grant applications for planning and continuation requests for implementation are reviewed by a grant review panel, as required by federal law, and funding recommendations are made to the Indiana Department of Education by the review panel. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis, and no applicant is guaranteed funding or funding amounts. Final funding decisions are be made by the Department.

Amounts for both the planning and implementation phases are decided based on several factors. Most importantly, award amounts are contingent upon the amount of funding that the Department receives from the federal government.
Award amounts for planning are based upon grant application scores, panel review recommendations, and the perceived need of the school. Award amounts for continuation funding are based on how well the organizer has met goals set out in the planning phase and has described goals for the implementation phase, how well the applicant has met certain benchmarks set out in the continuation request, panel review recommendations, and perceived need.



11) When can an organizer apply for grant funds for planning?

A charter school organizer may apply for grant funds for planning activities as soon as the charter is approved. In order to protect the integrity of the grant, no organizer may apply for ANY funding before a charter has been approved.



12) What does an organizer need to do to apply for grant funds for planning?

Organizers are sent an application for grant funds when our office has been notified by the school’s sponsor has approved the school’s charter.  The application meets federal statutory requirements and consists of a signed assurances page, a narrative, and budget information. Applications will be evaluated by a grant review panel based on a rubric, which is provided in the application.



13) If an organizer has an operating school and has previously received planning funds, must it reapply for continuation funds for implementation activities?

If an organizer has previously received planning funds, the organizer must submit a continuation request for implementation funds. These funds will generally be awarded for a period of 24 months. The continuation request is not an application. It is a description of the ways in which the organizer has met certain benchmarks in the planning phase and a description of how s/he will meet benchmarks in the implementation phase. After Year One of the implementation phase, the school will be asked to submit an expenditure report and any necessary goal revisions to what we set out in the continuation request filed before Year One.
Although implementation funds are considered a continuation of the original planning grant received, award amounts remain competitive and will be based on how well the organizer met goals set out in the planning phase, how well the organizer has described goals for the implementation phase, perceived need, and most importantly, the amount of funding that the State receives from the federal government.
PLEASE NOTE: If an operating school has NEVER applied for or received planning funds, it must apply for implementation funds on a competitive basis. Schools that have previously received planning funds will be given priority for funding.  In this case the school would receive a maximum of 24 months of funding.



14) If an organizer is awarded grant funds, how long will it be before the first payment comes?

In general, applicants are notified of their award status within 60 days of submitting their applications or continuation requests. At this time, awardees must submit a cash request form along with a final budget plan, in order to begin receiving funds.  Requests for distributions of awarded grant funds are processed once a month.