Charter Schools-Competitive Grant Program

ESEA--No Child Left Behind Act
Title V-B - Public Charter Schools
Competitive Grant Program

Program Description:
Wisconsin's charter school discretionary grant program encourages innovation in school organization and instruction. Charter schools are accountable in three major areas: student performance, fiscal management, and adherence to their contracts and the charter school law. Charter schools are exempt from most state requirements regarding public K-12 education but are not exempt from federal laws governing education or civil rights policies or from local school board policies unless negotiated in the district contract. They are free to be creative in setting up their governance and administrative structures. There are currently 188 charter schools operating in the state of Wisconsin.

A charter school cannot discriminate on the basis of a person's sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability. The charter contract must describe how the school will achieve a racial and ethnic balance among its pupils that reflects the school district population.

• Teachers must be licensed by the DPI
• Charter schools must participate in the Wisconsin Student Assessment System and in the annual school performance report produced by DPI
• Students must be counted for membership of the local school district

Who is Eligible to Apply:
Applications must include evidence of support of the potential chartering authority by signature of an official of the authority on the (PI-9600-P) grant application. Multiple subgrant applications may be submitted by an applicant/authority.

Applicants must assure DPI that the planning project proposed in the application is directed toward the establishment of a non-sectarian charter school which will meet Wisconsin’s charter school staff certification laws and administrative rules. Acceptance of a grant does not bind or commit the authority to award a charter.

Amount of funds available:
Planning phase proposals may not exceed $10,000 per project. The chartering authority must serve as the fiscal agent for the grant. A planning grant recipient may be considered for up to $40,000 in additional supplemental planning grant funds after successful receipt of an official award notice. However, to be considered for additional funds, a subgrantee will be required to provide to DPI:

• A letter of support from the potential authorizer.
• Identification and address of the facility that will house the proposed charter school.
• A listing of the teachers/staff of the proposed charter school.
• A tentative start date for when the school will be open and serving children.
• A revised PI-9600-B and explanation of how the additional funds will be used.

Application Due Date:
Planning phase subgrant applications are due at DPI and postmarked on or before June 2, 2008, Round 1 or on or before October 1, 2008, Round 2.

Contact: For technical assistance contact:
Margaret McMurray, Charter Schools Consultant (CESAs 1, 7, 8, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside, and the City of Milwaukee), 1-888-245-2732, ext.5 (toll-free) or 608-266-5728, Barry Golden, Charter Schools Consultant (CESAs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12), 608-267-9111

For questions about this information, contact Jackie Abel (608) 266-2819

Last updated on 7/30/2008