FAQ

Great Schools Colorado FAQ

1. What is an Authorized Public Chartering Agency?
An Authorized Public Chartering Agency is a state educational agency, local educational agency, or another public entity that has the authority under state law to approve or authorize a charter school.

2. What is a Charter School Support Organization?
A nonprofit, nongovernmental entity that provides assistance to charter school developers during planning and implementation and offers technical support to operating charter schools.

3. What is a Charter Management Organization (CMO)?
A nonprofit organization that operates or manages multiple charter schools under a centralized system for support, operations, and oversight.

4. Who is considered a Developer?
A Developer is an individual or group—including teachers, administrators, school staff, parents, or community members—who initiates a charter school project.

5. Who qualifies as an Eligible Applicant for the CSP grant?
An eligible applicant is a Developer who has applied to an authorized public chartering authority and provided proper notice to that authority.

6. What defines a Charter School under federal guidelines?

A charter school must:

• Be authorized under state law and exempt from significant state/local rules.
• Operate under public supervision and direction.
• Provide an elementary or secondary education program.
• Be nonsectarian and tuition-free.
• Comply with federal civil rights and disability laws.
• Admit students through a lottery if oversubscribed.

7. What is a High-Quality Charter School?
A high-quality charter school demonstrates strong academic performance, financial and operational stability, and success in increasing student achievement, particularly among underserved student subgroups.

8. What does it mean to Expand or Replicate a Charter School?

• Expand: Significantly increase student enrollment or add new grade levels.
• Replicate: Open a new school or campus based on an existing high-quality charter school’s model.