The purpose of the Massachusetts Charter Schools Program (CSP) Expansion Grant is to award subgrants to eligible applicants to expand high-quality charter schools; (ESEA, 4303 (b)(1) (A–C))1. See Definitions for federal and state definitions of a charter school.
Priority will be given to charter schools that provide equitable access to a high-quality public education, specifically:
In year one, priority will be given to charter schools that enroll a demographic composition that mirrors that of the sending districts, by enrolling comparable or greater percentages of low income and other student groups that have been historically marginalized in educational settings.
By year two, priority will be given to charter schools that enroll a greater percentage, in comparison with the sending districts, of low income and one other student group that has been historically marginalized in educational settings. Examples of student groups include, but are not limited to, students identified as English learners, Hispanic or Latino students, and Black or African American students.
Priority will also be given to charter schools that demonstrate high school and post-secondary success, specifically:
For charter schools that serve students in secondary grades who are residents of districts where the high school graduation rate and/or the ninth-grade course completion and passing rate are below the statewide average and have adopted an educational program that incorporates evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes for students attending secondary schools and alternative high schools.
This funding opportunity is for expanding charter schools that meet the state and federal definition of charter school under ESEA, Sec 4310 (2) (See Part II for definition) and were awarded an expansion amendment by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Expansion is defined as increasing student enrollment and/or adding two or more grades.
Federal CFDA# 84.282
Federal grant funds must adhere to:
The receipt of grant funds is contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that it will comply with the Massachusetts General Laws, including G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, the MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
Approximately $3,500,000
Base amount $4,000 per pupil up to $1,000,000.
Additional funds are available if a charter school achieves the Priorities listed above:
Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.
All expenditures must be allowable, necessary, reasonable, and allocable. An eligible applicant receiving a subgrant shall use the funds for one or more of the following purposes listed in ESEA, Section 4303(h) (outlined in Allowed/Unallowed Costs Guidance under Additional Information).
Preparing teachers, school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel, including the costs associated with providing professional development, and hiring and compensating teachers, school leaders and specialized instructional support personnel during the planning period.
Acquiring supplies, training, equipment (including technology), and educational materials (including developing and acquiring instructional materials).
Carrying out necessary renovations to ensure that a new school building complies with applicable statutes and regulations, and minor facilities repairs (excluding construction).
Providing one-time costs associated with providing transportation to students to and from the charter school.
Carrying out community engagement activities, which may include paying the cost of student and staff recruitment.
Providing for other appropriate, non-sustained costs related to the expansion of a charter school.
Unallowable costs include the following:
Construction;
Personnel costs that are related to ongoing operations of the charter school;
Indirect costs
Please refer to the Allowable/Unallowable Costs Guidance for more details and examples.
Upon Approval (No earlier than 7/1/2025) * – 6/30/2026
* Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.
Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign
Joanna Laghetto
(781) 338-3221
Friday August 29, 2025
The FY26 Fund Code 0532 Charter School Program Start-Up Grant will be completed and submitted in our new Grants for Education Management System (GEM$). GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system that will eventually phase out the use of EdGrants.
Please Note: Grant submission at the LEA level requires roles to be established for grant writer for the specific fund code, LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and superintendent/chief executive for sign off. All these roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to GEM$, maintained at the LEA level, or sent in to the DESE RFP contact as described on the individual forms. The user guidance documents and forms are found on the GEM$ homepage under DESE Resources. This form can be accessed without logging in to the system.
1 Sec. 4303. Grants To Support High-Quality Charter Schools. (a) State Entity Defined. —For purposes of this section, the term ''State entity'' means— (1) a State educational agency; (2) a State charter school board; (3) a Governor of a State; or (4) a charter school support organization. (b) Program Authorized. —From the amount available under section 4302(b)(3), the Secretary shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to State entities having applications approved under subsection (f) to enable such entities to— (1) award subgrants to eligible applicants to enable eligible applicants to— (A) open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools; (B) open and prepare for the operation of replicated high-quality charter schools; or (C) expand high-quality charter schools; and (2) provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in carry out the activities described in paragraph (1), and work with authorized public chartering agencies in the state to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools.
Last Updated: March 25, 2025