Only brick-and-mortar schools meeting the federal definition of developers and charter schools are eligible to apply; virtual charter schools are ineligible.

Eligible applicants must be developers who have:

1. applied to an authorized public chartering authority to operate a charter school; and

2. provided adequate and timely notice to that authority. A developer means an individual or group of individuals (including a public or private nonprofit organization), which may include teachers, administrators, and other school staff, parents, or other members of the local community in which a charter school project will be carried out.

To be eligible through the APSRC Charter Development Grant, brick-and-mortar charter applicants must be either:

i. A new open-enrollment charter school that has received approval from the authorizer;

ii. A new district conversion charter school that has received approval from the authorizer; or

iii. An existing charter school that has received approval to expand from the authorizer.

Expanding charters must be applying for startup funds to support a material expansion that results in new student seats.

• Only expanding open-enrollment charters qualify for an expansion grant.

• Charter schools that are expanding must meet the definition of a high-quality charter school as well as the definition of expanding in accordance section 4310(7-9) of the ESEA and the definitions provided herein under the subheading “Definitions.” Schools that do not meet these definitions are not eligible for subgrant funding.

• If an existing charter has received a CSP grant within the previous 5 years, the charter applying must not have received a CSP start up grant for the same activities, must meet the definition of a high-quality charter school and must have at least 3 years of improved educational results in accordance with section 4303(e)(2) of the ESEA.

• 4303(e)(2) SUBGRANTS.—An eligible applicant may not receive more than 1 subgrant under this section for each individual charter school for a 5-year period, unless the eligible applicant demonstrates to the State entity that such individual charter school has at least 3 years of improved educational results for students enrolled in such charter school with respect to the elements described in subparagraphs (A) and (D) of section 4310(8).

ESEA Definitions

• 4310 (7) EXPAND. - The term ‘‘expand’’, when used with respect to a high-quality charter school, means to significantly increase enrollment or add one or more grades to the high-quality charter school.

• 4310 (8) HIGH-QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘high-quality charter school’’ means a charter school that—

(A) shows evidence of strong academic results, which may include strong student academic growth, as determined by a State;

(B) has no significant issues in the areas of student safety, financial and operational management, or statutory or regulatory compliance;

(C) has demonstrated success in significantly increasing student academic achievement, including graduation rates where applicable, for all students served by the charter school; and

(D) has demonstrated success in increasing student academic achievement, including graduation rates where applicable, for each of the subgroups of students, as defined in section 1111(c)(2), except that such demonstration is not required in a case in which the number of students in a group is insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student.

(9) REPLICATE.—The term ‘‘replicate’’, when used with respect to a high-quality charter school, means to open a new charter school, or a new campus of a high-quality charter school, based on the educational model of an existing high-quality charter school, under an existing charter or an additional charter, if permitted or required by State law.