Planning & Implementation Grant

2021 RFP for the Public Charter Schools Program Grant for Planning and Implementation

Each year, the Florida Department of Education administers the Charter Schools Program (CSP) Planning and Implementation grant through a request for proposals (RFP) process. The purpose of this grant is to provide financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of high quality charter schools and expand the number of high quality charter schools in Florida.

Newest RFP for the Public Charter Schools Program Grant for Planning and Implementation (2021-2026) (PDF)

Stage I application deadline: February 26, 2021, 5:00pm EST

Technical assistance webinar presentation (PDF)

Technical assistance webinar recording: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/3418980198115519234

2021-26 Florida Public Charter Schools Program Grant Request For Proposals Questions & Answers (PDF)

Eligible Applicant(s)

To be eligible to apply to and receive this grant, an applicant must meet the following conditions:

• Submitted a charter school application to a local school district using the Department’s model charter school application (Form IEPC-M1, effective February 2016 or later) as adopted in State Board of Education Rule 6A-6.0786; and
  • Charter application has been approved by the district;
  • Charter application is pending; or
  • Charter application is denied and pending an appeal.

Only those charter schools that are approved by their Sponsor will be eligible to receive funds under this grant. Prior to approving the initial Project Award Notification (DOE 200) for each school selected for funding, the Department’s Charter Schools Office will verify:

1. The CSP sub-recipient has not withdrawn its approved charter school application, and;
2. The CSP sub-recipient will open charter school no later than August 2022.

An eligible applicant that does not intent to open a charter school by August 2022 should not apply for funding under this competition, but should instead apply for future competitions. While Florida law allows for up to three years of planning, an eligible applicant applying for funding under this competition can spend no longer than 18 months in planning and program design.

Further, an eligible applicant must meet the federal definition of a charter school, as defined in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA § 4310 (2)), and must meet the federal definition of a charter developer (ESEA § 4310 (5)), which is explained immediately below in the section on definitions.