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Utah Charter Schools Program (CSP)

CSP Grant CSP Key Objectives Awardees Application Funding Distribution Review Process Post Award

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Utah Charter Schools Program-State Entity Grant (CSP-SE)

In September 2024, UAPCS was awarded a Department of Education Charter Schools Program- State Entity Grant. This award amount is $44M + over the next 5 years. Awards are granted to state entities, like UAPCS, who then provide subgrants to eligible applicants for new charter schools or expanding and replicating existing high-quality schools.

See the FAQs below to find out more!


Frequently Asked Questions:

The current funding amount available to be awarded in April 2026 for Utah’s Charter School Growth Initiative subgrants is $8,000,000, which will be divided into three categories and awarded based on the applicants' perceived ability to carry out one of the following eligible subgrant activities (per ESEA § 4303(b)(1) requirements):

(a) Open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools; (b) Open and prepare for the operation of replicated high-quality charter schools; or (c) Expand high-quality charter schools.

Subgrants will be funded for up to 42 months, including a maximum 18-month planning period and a 24-month implementation period. No subgrant can exceed 42 months. Awards are competitive, and continuation funding depends on meeting grant goals, making satisfactory progress, and adhering to reporting and compliance requirements.

Over the next 5 years, we will use this grant to help 20 new charter schools, or new campuses of existing charter schools, open. As part of that effort, we will expand our director incubator program, and provide more technical assistance to charter school applicants and charter schools.

Join us via Zoom for the following:

  • April 14, 2025 @ 5:30 pm for the Request for Applications (RFA) Orientation Webinar*
  • April 21, 2024 @ 5:30 pm for the Budget Support Webinar*

*A majority of the the applying school's board members and administrative team must be present.

Letter of intent and eligibility check deadline is April 18, 2025 by 5pm.

Request for Application published and application window opens April 21, 2025 following the Budget Support Webinar.

The terms of the federal CSP program prevent UAPCS from distributing these funds to expand existing buildings. Nor may we use these funds to pay for any building. Rather, this grant is only to help new charter schools, and new campuses of existing charter schools, open successfully.

This grant is designed to help new schools open strong. So recipients can use the grant to hire a director, lease office space, purchase curriculum, get training for teachers and other key employees, buy school furniture, computers, software, etc.  In other states which have received a similar grant, recipients have also purchased a new bus, an option that Utah grant recipients will also have. In the next few months, UAPCS will publish a detailed guide outlining how grant recipients will be able to use these funds.

CSP GRANT WEBINARS

CSP Introduction & Timelines

Introduction & Timeline Slides

CSP Budget Support & Overview

CSP Post Award Grant Process

2026 CSP GRANT TIMELINE






EventDate and Time
Training #1: Introduction to CSP Webinar
January 14, 2026 @ 5:30 pm via Zoom
Letter of Intent / Eligibility Check Deadline
 January 14, 2026 by 11:59 pm
Training #2: Required RFA Orientation WebinarJanuary 20, 2026  @ 5:30 pm via Zoom

RFA Published & Application Window Opens

Contingent on approval of the Letter of Intent/Eligibility Check 


January 22, 2026  @ 7:00 pm 
Training #3: Required Budget Support WebinarJanuary 26, 2026  @ 6:00  pm via Zoom
Peer Reviewer RFQ Posted & DisseminatedFebruary 2, 2026
UAPCS CSP Office Hours
M-TH 1:00-4:00 pm January through March
Peer Review Applications Due
February 18, 2026 by 5 pm
Peer Reviewer Selection 
February 19, 2026
Peer Reviewer Training
February 24-28, 2026 Time TBD
RFA Submission Deadline
March 4, 2026 by 5 pm
Peer Review Window
March 10-April 4, 2026 
Review Feedback Completed & Reviewed by CSP Team
April 6-10, 2026
Capacity Interview 

April 13-16, 2026 Time TBD
Internal Review Period [4th review option]
April 16-21, 2026
Award Announcement CallsApril 22,  2026
Post-Award Webinar
April 28, 2026
RFA Cycle Fiscal Year Begins
May 1, 2026
UAPCS CSP Office Hours
Beginning May 1, Time TBD

2026 CSP Grant Cycle

If your school is interested in applying for a subgrant in the second round, we strongly encourage you to attend the January 14th webinar. This funding opportunity is available for schools planning to open no later than August 2027, as the implementation phase may be 18 months or less. Register for the webinars to receive the Zoom link.

If your school is not planning to open until August 2028, we recommend considering the third round of CSP subgrant awards next year.

The webinars discuss the grant details, outline the application process, review goals and objectives, and guide you in designing your CSP budget.


January 14, 2026 | 5:30-6:30pm - Introduction to CSP

January 20, 2026 | 5:30-6:30pm - RFA Orientation

January 26, 2026 | 6 pm - 7 pm - Budget Support

Anyone working with the Grant must attend, including school applicant board members and administration teams