Opportunity Information: Apply for DOL OESE 33903

The Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to State Entities (CFDA 84.282A) is a discretionary federal grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. The core idea is that the Department does not primarily fund individual charter schools directly through this particular competition. Instead, it awards grants to qualifying "State entities," and those State entities then run their own subgrant competitions or processes to pass funding on to eligible applicants at the school or operator level. The overall purpose is to increase access to charter schooling by supporting the opening of new charter schools and by helping proven, high-quality charter schools replicate or expand.

Eligible applicants are limited to State entities in states where there is a state law that specifically authorizes charter schools. In this program, a "State entity" has a specific meaning and can be one of the following: (1) a State educational agency (SEA), (2) a State charter school board, (3) the Governor of a State, or (4) a charter school support organization. While the opportunity lists eligible applicants broadly as state governments and certain nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations other than institutions of higher education), the key eligibility gate is still whether the applicant fits the program's definition of a State entity and operates in a state with an authorizing charter statute.

Funding supported through this program is aimed primarily at serving elementary and secondary students, which is the traditional K-12 scope of the Charter Schools Program. However, the description also notes that charter schools receiving CSP funds may serve students in early childhood education programs or postsecondary students as part of their broader educational model, where applicable. Practically, this means the program can accommodate charter models that include pre-K components or blended/linked programming that extends beyond grade 12, so long as it aligns with program rules and the charter school framework in that state.

This opportunity is categorized as a competitive, discretionary grant, with the funding instrument listed as a grant. The opportunity number is DOL OESE 33903 (as provided in the source data), and it is associated with CFDA number 84.282. The administering agency component is the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. The posting indicates an original application closing date of 2026-06-18 and an anticipated number of awards of five. The listed award ceiling is shown as 0, which typically signals that the ceiling is not specified in the summary record and applicants need to consult the full notice or application package for the actual funding range, limits, and any other award size guidance.

In short, this grant is designed to build statewide capacity to start and scale charter schools by funding a state-level grantmaker (the State entity), which then distributes subgrants to operators and schools. The policy focus is on growth that is not just new, but also quality-driven, with explicit emphasis on replicating and expanding high-quality charter schools in addition to opening new ones.

  • The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CSP Grants to State Entities 84.282A" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.282.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-16.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.
Apply for DOL OESE 33903

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to State Entities (CFDA 84.282A)?

The Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to State Entities (CFDA 84.282A) is a competitive, discretionary federal grant competition administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. The grant is designed to increase access to charter schooling by supporting the opening of new charter schools and helping proven, high-quality charter schools replicate or expand.

Who runs this grant competition?

The competition is run by the U.S. Department of Education, specifically the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE).

Does this program fund individual charter schools directly?

Not primarily. Under this specific competition, the Department generally does not award funds directly to individual charter schools. Instead, it awards grants to qualifying State entities, and those State entities then run subgrant competitions or other processes to pass funding on to eligible applicants at the school or operator level.

Who is eligible to apply as the main applicant?

Eligible applicants are limited to qualifying State entities in states where state law specifically authorizes charter schools.

What counts as a "State entity" for this program?

In this program, a "State entity" has a specific definition and can be one of the following:

  • A State educational agency (SEA)
  • A State charter school board
  • The Governor of a State
  • A charter school support organization

Is eligibility only about being a state government agency or a nonprofit?

No. While the opportunity summary may broadly reference state governments and certain nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations other than institutions of higher education), the central eligibility requirement is that the applicant must meet the program definition of a State entity and operate in a state with an authorizing charter school statute.

What is the purpose of funding under this program?

The purpose is to increase access to charter schooling by building statewide capacity to open new charter schools and to replicate or expand high-quality charter schools. The model is state-level: the federal award supports a State entity that then makes subgrants to charter schools or charter operators.

What types of charter school growth does the program emphasize?

The program supports both the opening of new charter schools and the replication or expansion of proven, high-quality charter schools, with an explicit emphasis on quality-driven growth.

Who ultimately receives the funding on the ground?

While the federal grant goes to a State entity, that State entity is expected to distribute funds through subgrants or similar processes to eligible applicants at the school or operator level, depending on the state-run process.

What grade levels or student populations are primarily served by CSP-funded charter schools?

The funding is aimed primarily at serving elementary and secondary students (the traditional K-12 focus of the Charter Schools Program).

Can CSP-funded charter schools serve students outside of K-12?

Yes, the description notes that charter schools receiving CSP funds may also serve students in early childhood education programs or postsecondary students as part of a broader educational model, where applicable and consistent with program rules and the charter school framework in that state.

What type of grant is this (formula vs. competitive)?

This is a competitive, discretionary grant competition. The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the opportunity number and CFDA number?

The opportunity number is DOL OESE 33903 (as provided in the source data). It is associated with CFDA number 84.282.

Which agency component administers the opportunity?

The administering component listed is the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE).

What is the application closing date?

The posting indicates an original application closing date of 2026-06-18.

How many awards are expected?

The anticipated number of awards is five.

Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The listed award ceiling is shown as 0. This typically indicates that the ceiling is not specified in the summary record and that applicants should consult the full notice or application package for the actual funding range, limits, and any other award size guidance.

If the award ceiling is listed as 0, what should applicants do?

Applicants should rely on the full notice and/or the official application package for complete details on allowable award sizes, any caps, and other funding guidance, since the summary record does not specify the ceiling.

Why does the program use State entities instead of funding schools directly?

The design is intended to build statewide capacity by funding a state-level grantmaker (the State entity). That State entity then runs subgrant processes to support the opening of new charter schools and the replication/expansion of high-quality charter schools within the state.

What is the key state-level requirement to be eligible?

The state must have a state law that specifically authorizes charter schools, and the applicant must qualify as a State entity under the program definition.

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