Application Steps

A more detailed explanation of what is required will be found in the RFA. This serves to provide a general idea of the process. 

Step 1: Eligibility Verification

Prospective applicants must complete the Letter of Intent & Pre-Application Eligibility Verification form via the UAPCS Federal CSP SurveyMonkey Application Portal. Applicants will be asked to verify that they have  applied to an authorized chartering agency for a new school, expansion, or replication and meet federal definitions for a charter school and developer (ESEA § 4310). Those seeking replication or expansion funding must qualify as a high-quality charter school. Additionally, applicants must have nonprofit status, and must have notified their authorizer of intent to apply. Previous CSP funding recipients for the same purpose are not eligible. UAPCS will verify applicant eligibility within five business days, only applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will receive access to the full application. 

Step 2: Technical Assistance

Attendance at mandatory technical assistance webinars is required. Recordings will be available for reference.

• Training #1 Introduction to CSP Webinar (January 14, 2026 @ 5:30 PM via Zoom)
• Training #2: Required RFA Orientation Webinar (January 20, 2026 @ 5:30 PM via
  Zoom)
• Training #3: Required Budget Support Webinar (January 26, 2026 @ 6:00 PM via
  Zoom)

REGISTER FOR WEBINARS HERE

Anyone working within the Grant must attend, that should include board members and admin teams. 

For assistance, contact csp@utahcharters.org.

Step 3: Application Submission

• Submission Window: Opens January 22, 2026 after Letter of Intent and Eligibility verification
• Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically via the UAPCS Federal CSP SurveyMonkey Portal by March 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM MDT. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Confirmation: Applicants will receive an email confirmation within 24 hours. If not received, contact csp@utahcharters.org.

Step 4: Application Formatting & Budget

• Formatting: Standard letter size (8.5” x 11”), 12-point Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri, 1.15 line spacing, 1-inch margins. Tables may use 11-point font, 30-page limit (excluding executive summary and supporting documents).
• For application content please see the Project Narrative section.
• For a list of items that must be included in the application please see the Required Support Document section. 
• Certifications & Assurances: Signatures from the project manager and board chair must be included in the online application.

For detailed allowable costs, please use ALLOWABLE COSTS GUIDE, SPRING 2025.

ESEA § 4303(h) LOCAL USES OF FUNDS states: An eligible applicant receiving a subgrant under this section shall use such funds to support the activities described in subsection (b)(1), which shall include one or more of the following activities:

1. Preparing teachers, school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel, including through paying the costs associated with—(A) providing professional development; and (B) hiring and compensating, during the eligible applicant’s planning period specified in the application for subgrant funds that is required under this section, one or more of the following:
   • (i) Teachers
   • (ii) School leaders
   • (iii) Specialized instructional support personnel
2. Acquiring supplies, training, equipment (including technology), and educational materials (including developing and acquiring instructional materials).
3. Carrying out necessary renovations to ensure that a new school building complies with applicable statutes and regulations, and minor facilities repairs (excluding construction).
4. Providing one-time, startup costs associated with providing transportation to students to and from the charter school.
5. Carrying out community engagement activities, which may include paying the cost of student and staff recruitment.
6. Providing for other appropriate, non-sustained costs related to the activities described in subsection (b)(1) when such costs cannot be met from other sources.

All expenditures must be:

• One-time in nature.
• Obligated during the grant project period.
• Correlated to specific grant objectives.
• Excluded from ongoing operational costs.

Examples of allowable costs:

1. Staff Preparation and Professional Development: 
   • Providing research-based professional development for teachers, school leaders, and other staff aligned with national standards.
   • Hiring and compensating teachers, school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel during the planning period specified in the grant application.
   • Covering travel costs for school leaders, staff, and board members to attend conferences, training, or visit other charter schools for learning purposes.
2. Acquiring Resources: Purchasing supplies, equipment (including technology), and educational materials, including instructional materials or curriculum alignment.
3. Facilities Renovations: Conducting necessary renovations to ensure a new school building complies with applicable statutes and regulations. This includes minor facility repairs but excludes construction. 
4. Transportation Startup Costs: Covering one-time startup costs associated with providing student transportation to and from the charter school, as specified in ESEA § 4303(h)(4).
5. Community Engagement: Funding community engagement activities, including student and staff recruitment, outreach efforts, and developing a robust parent and community engagement plan.
6. Non-Sustained Opening Costs: Addressing other appropriate one-time costs related to opening, replicating, or expanding high-quality charter schools, provided these expenses cannot be covered by other sources.

The following outlines expenses that are not permitted to be funded through CSP grant funds. It is important to carefully review this list to ensure compliance with grant guidelines and avoid disallowed expenditures.

• Facility construction, renovation, or other capital improvement costs, except as specified in the allowable costs section.
• Food, beverages, alcohol. 
• Incentives, awards, gift certificates.
• Apparel.
• Lobbying activities.
• Student activities.
• Utilities and other facility operating expenses incurred on or after the first day of school.
• Salaries or related fringe benefits for essential staff after the school has opened.

These lists are not exhaustive but provide examples of common expenses that cannot be funded through grant funds. For additional information on allowable and unallowable costs, refer to the OMB’s Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 and to the UCSP-Allowable-Cost-Guide-2025.pdf.

For the purpose of the Charter Schools Program (CSP) grant, Utah will align its definition of lottery preferences with the lottery exemptions as determined by the Federal Government. This ensures consistency in enrollment practices and compliance with federal regulations while maintaining equitable access to charter school opportunities.

When applications exceed capacity, schools must use a statistically random method to select students in a random lottery to ensure equitable access. Schools must include a policy or plan for recruiting students that targets all segments of the community and hold one lottery that provides qualified students with an equal opportunity to attend the school.

Lottery exemption categories include the following:

• Students who are enrolled in a public school at the time it is converted into a public charter school; 
• Students who are eligible to attend, and are living in the attendance area of, a public school at the time it is converted into a public charter school; 
• Siblings of students already admitted to or attending the same charter school; 
• Children of a charter school's founders, employees (so long as the total number of students allowed under this exemption constitutes only a small percentage of the school's total enrollment); and
• Students articulating between associated charter schools, as approved by the US Department of Education. 

The subgrantees will conduct a single, unified lottery that provides all qualified students with an equal opportunity to attend, in compliance with CSP grant requirements. No separate lotteries will be held based on gender or any other classification. The admissions process will be open, transparent, and aligned with federal and state regulations to ensure equitable access for all applicants. Students not selected through the lottery will be placed on a waitlist. All admissions must comply with public school anti-discrimination laws to ensure fair and inclusive practices. Where discrepancies exist between federal and Utah state laws, federal regulations take precedence.

Utah law allows charter schools to utilize a weighted lottery (Utah Code §53G-6-502(8)).  The use of a weighted lottery falls within the scope and objectives of the approved grant project, as it serves to enhance fairness and inclusivity in the selection process while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations and funding requirements. To utilize the weighted lottery, the process must be included in the applicant’s authorized charter agreement and be overseen by the authorizer. The weighted lottery gives a slightly better chance of admission to educationally disadvantaged students (ESEA §4303(c)(3)(A), Utah Code §53G-6-502(8)). However, a weighted lottery may not be used to create a school that will exclusively serve a particular subset of students or to guarantee a certain number of seats for a particular subset of students. 

Weight categories may include:

1. Low-income students

2. Students with disabilities;

3. English learners

4. Migrant students;

5. neglected or delinquent students; 

6. homeless students. 

If a weighted lottery is included, please describe the process in its entirety, including the lottery timeline (refer to Lottery Process (vii) in Part 2. Additional Federal or Utah weighted lottery categories may exist; however, for the purpose of this grant, only those categories that overlap between Federal and Utah requirements will be honored.

If a weighted lottery is included, the process will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, with a clearly defined timeline in accordance with the Lottery Process (vii) outlined in Part 2. The weighted lottery will be designed to provide a modest advantage to identified student populations while ensuring compliance with both Federal and Utah requirements. The weights will be carefully calibrated to align with the objectives of the approved grant project, slightly increasing the chances of admission for targeted groups without significantly altering overall lottery outcomes. Only those weighted categories that overlap between Federal and Utah requirements will be honored. This approach promotes equitable access while maintaining transparency and adherence to all applicable regulations and funding requirements.

A charter school may not discriminate in the charter school's admission policies or practices on the same basis as other public schools may not discriminate in admission policies and practices, and the lottery may not be used to create a school that exclusively serves a particular subset of students. The authorized public chartering agency will review, approve, or monitor specific lottery practices, including the use of weight amounts.