The US Department of Education notified the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) this past Friday that it is receiving a $44 million grant to expand high quality charter schools in Utah. UAPCS will administer this grant over 5 years to develop high quality new charter schools, and to help existing high quality charter schools open new campuses.
“Utah families love charter schools,” said Royce Van Tassell, executive director of UAPCS. “This grant will allow even more families to find their place in a public charter school of their choice.”
The federal grant is part of the US Department of Education’s Charter School Program (CSP). State-level applicants compete for a share of the annual $440 million Congress has appropriated for the CSP.
UAPCS director of training, Shannon Greer said, “Long experience has shown that schools that start well, perform well. I look forward to using this grant to help develop 20 new high quality charter schools. We will be able to provide these schools with up to $2 million each during their start up and implementation phases.”
Strict federal rules govern how new charter schools may use these funds. For example, new schools and new campuses can hire a director, rent office space, and get the training, technology, software and supplies new charter schools need to start strong.
Greer continued, “We will also expand our director incubator program. This program embeds potential directors in existing charter schools before their own school opens. It will provide them with hands-on experience running the day-to-day operations of a school.”
Van Tassell concluded, “We are thrilled to use this federal grant to provide thousands of Utah families a broader choice of high quality schools, schools that meet their children’s needs. Utah parents want to be partners in their children’s education, and this grant helps make those hopes real.”
