2026 Grant Competition
2026 New, Replicating & Expanding GSC Competition
The 2026 Great Schools Colorado (CSP) Grant will open Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. MST, with full applications due Monday, March 9, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. MST. (Recording of the 1/21/26 webinar available on the Technical Assistance menu or here.)
This Year 2 competition anticipates funding up to seven subgrantees, including new, replicating, and expanding charter schools, for grant periods of up to 42 months. The federally supported Charter School Program Grant advances the Great Schools Colorado project by expanding access to high-quality charter school options statewide. The program focuses on increasing high-quality charter seats and strengthening the quality and sustainability of Colorado’s charter school sector.
Step 1: Creating a New Applicant Account in Foundant (CSP Grant)
View a step-by-step guide for first-time Great Schools Colorado (CSP) applicants on how to create an account in the Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager (GLM) and access the grant application.
Step 2: Once you have created your account you will be asked to complete the Eligibility/LOI portion of your application (inside Foundant).
Step 3: After a short verification process, you will then be passed along to proceed with the full application (inside Foundant).
NOTE: We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the entire 2026 Request for Application (RFA) before beginning the process.
Eligibility
This competition is open to eligible Colorado charter schools applying as new charter schools, replicating charter schools, or expanding charter schools, as defined under the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP). Applicants must meet all federal and state CSP eligibility requirements and be able to demonstrate readiness to plan, replicate, or expand a high-quality charter school program.
Additional eligibility criteria and requirements are outlined in the Request for Application (RFA).
Timeline
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January 21, 2026 (8:30–9:30 a.m. MST): Great Schools Colorado–CSP Grant Informational Call — Deck | Recording
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January 21, 2026: Great Schools Colorado–CSP Grant Request for Application (RFA) and Materials Released
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January 21 – March 9, 2026: Application Process for New, Replicating, and Expanding Charter Schools | Due 11:59 p.m. (MDT)
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March 9, 2026: Full Application Submission Deadline
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March — May 2026: Confirm Applicant Eligibility & Engage External Peer Reviewers
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June 2-6, 2026: Announce Provisional Awards
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June 6-20, 2026: Post Award TA & Obtain Final Approval
Resources
For this grant cycle, relevant tools, templates, and reference materials will be available on the Resources page to support applicants and grantees throughout the process.
Technical Assistance
Great Schools Colorado provides technical assistance across every phase of the grant lifecycle, including pre-award, application, and post-award support, with targeted resources for authorizers and charter school operators.
Support includes informational sessions, workshops, office hours, and one-on-one assistance to strengthen applications and support successful implementation.