Great Schools Colorado

Supporting the growth of high-quality public education in Colorado through the federal Charter School Program.

Great Schools Colorado:
Federal Funding for Charter Schools

A photo from AXIS International Academy, a 2018-2019 awardee

The Colorado League of Charter Schools is distributing $77 million in federal education funding to help Colorado expand students' opportunities to attend high-quality public charter schools that meet and exceed state academic standards.

The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Charter Schools Program (CSP), and the funds are distributed through the League’s five-year “Great Schools Colorado” project. The program will award over 30 subgrants focusing on two objectives:

  1. Increasing the number of high-quality charter schools and high-quality charter school seats in Colorado with an emphasis on how programs drive academic outcomes for educationally disadvantaged and at-risk students. 
  2. Improving the quality of Colorado’s charter school sector and intensifying its impact on overall school quality and school improvement across the state. 

Utilizing a competitive grant process, Great Schools Colorado will award CSP subgrants to charter school developers in Colorado to carry out one of the following activities in the state:

  • Open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools;
  • Open and prepare for the operation of replicated high-quality charter schools; or
  • Expand high-quality charter schools
Innovation doesn’t come from state department edicts, but from community voices.

Karega Rausch

President & CEO, NACSA

 

Expanding, Replicating, Launching Public Schools

We're supporting new charter schools to meet the demand for high-quality public schools in new geographies, for student needs, and to meet the needs of parents and communities.

Learn more



Feedback & Additional Links
  • In collaboration with an authorizer-support organization, The League will develop a tool for authorizers to gather community feedback on new school proposals. This feedback will help guide pipeline development, shape innovative school models, and identify areas for additional support.
  • The Colorado League of Charter Schools will distribute $68M in federal funding through “Great Schools Colorado,” supporting 30 high-quality charter schools statewide. Read the full press release here.
  • Focus areas include expanding schools for at-risk students and improving statewide school quality. Check out the Department of Education Award page.