Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2007

The priority of this program is to provide support to charter school founding groups in developing their charter applications, with specific emphasis on the educational program, academic goals, and business plans.

Please note that charters granted to schools whose specified region at the time of charter application includes a targeted area is eligible potentially for additional allocation of funds through the Charter School Start-Up Assistance Program (Fund Code 535) . A targeted area is an area served by a school district that, as of the October 2005, has either:

• two or more schools identified as schools in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under Title I, Part A of the ESEA or been identified as in need of improvement as a district under Title I, Part A of the ESEA; or

• two or more schools identified by the Massachusetts Board of Education (MA BOE) as under-performing or been declared under-performing as a district by the MA BOE.

A list of districts designated as targeted areas can be found in Appendix B of the 2006-2007 Application for a Massachusetts Public School Charter.

2006-2007 Charter Applicant Sponsors: Not-for-profit organizations; currently operating charter schools that have had their charter renewed; or public school districts (for prospective Horace Mann Charter Schools) that sponsor a charter applicant group for the 2006-2007 application cycle will have first priority for funds.

2007-2008 Charter Applicant Sponsors: Any remaining funds not granted to 2006-2007 Charter Applicant Sponsors will be distributed to not-for-profit organizations; currently operating charter schools that have had their charter renewed; or public school districts (for prospective Horace Mann Charter Schools) that propose to sponsor a prospective charter applicant for the 2007-2008 application cycle.

2006-2007 Charter Applicant Sponsors: Entities that sponsor a charter applicant group that submit this grant proposal and are invited to submit a final charter application during the 2006-2007 application cycle will be eligible for up to $25,000 to be spent from October 1, 2006 through April 1, 2007 to support the development of the final application and educational program. If the applicant is granted a charter by the Board of Education in February 2007, the newly created school is eligible to apply for additional funding through the Charter School Start-Up Assistance Program (Fund Code 535).

2007-2008 Charter Applicant Sponsors: Entities that sponsor a prospective charter applicant for the 2007-2008 application cycle are eligible for up to $25,000 to be spent from March 1, 2007 to August 31, 2007.

Applicant entities must use grant funds solely for the development of a proposed charter school. Grant funds may be used for:

• stipends;

• consultants; and

• consumable office supplies/printing/postage related to the development of the proposed charter school.

Grant funds may not supplant the operating budget of the sponsoring entity and may not be used to purchase non-consumable goods/equipment (such as computers, furniture, or other equipment). All spending must be consistent with applicable federal regulations and guidelines.

Entities that sponsor a charter applicant group for the 2006-2007 application cycle should submit their grant proposal at the same time that they submit their charter prospectus, due Friday, August 4, 2006.

Entities that sponsor a charter applicant group for the 2007-2008 application cycle should submit their grant proposal by Thursday, February 1, 2007.

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.

• 2006-2007 Application for a Massachusetts Public School Charter

Submit three (3) sets, each with the original signature of the Executive Director, Superintendent, or School Leader of the sponsoring entity. Mail to:

Cliff Chuang
Charter School Office
Massachusetts Department of Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906