Charter Schools Program
The Charter Schools Program (CSP) is a competitive, national grant program eligible to state entities. Through this program, Mississippi First will subgrant 90% of funds to eligible charter school applicants to open new charter schools and/or replicate or expand high-quality charter schools.
The Charter Schools Program (CSP)–State Entities grant is authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (20 U.S.C. 7221-7221j). Prior to the enactment of the ESSA, the ESEA, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), authorized the Secretary to make awards to state educational agencies (SEAs) to enable them to conduct charter school subgrant programs in their states. The CSP State Entities grant is under the new law and has different eligibility requirements, priorities, definitions, application requirements, and selection criteria.
The major purposes of the CSP are to expand opportunities for all students, particularly traditionally underserved students, to attend charter schools and meet challenging state academic standards; provide financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of public charter schools; increase the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the United States; evaluate the impact of charter schools on student achievement, families, and communities; share best practices between charter schools and other public schools; encourage states to provide facilities support to charter schools; and support efforts to strengthen the charter school authorizing process.
The CSP grants to State Entities (84.282A) is a competitive grant program that enables state entities (including nonprofit charter school associations) to award subgrants to eligible applicants in their state to open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools and to replicate and expand high-quality charter schools. Grant funds must also be used by the state entity to provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in opening and preparing for the operation of new charter schools, or replicating or expanding high-quality charter schools; and to work with authorized public chartering agencies to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools.
Subgrantees
Instant Impact Global Preparatory Charter School (IIGP) provides a rigorous STEM-infused, 21st-century educational program that provides all students with the 4-Factor Foundation: Student Engagement, Cultural and Civic Responsibility, Social Emotional Development, and College and Career Readiness.
Address: 319 Highway 61 South, Natchez, MS 39120
Telephone: (601) 653-3709
Email: info@instantimpactglobalprep.org
Grades Served: K-2
Award Amount: $1,500,000
Term: 5 Years (ending September 30, 2027)
Current Year: $300,000 has been approved (ending on September 30, 2024)
Clarksdale Collegiate’s mission is to equip kindergarten through 12th grade scholars in the Mississippi Delta with the knowledge, skills, and experiences that prepare them to achieve college and career success and lead opportunity-filled lives. College and career preparation will be provided within a structured, ambitious, and jubilant school environment that offers our scholars multiple opportunities to be challenged, explore passions, and become engaged citizens.
Address: 1012 West Second Street, Clarksdale, MS 38614
Telephone: (662) 351-0106
Email: info@clarksdalecollegiate.org
Grades Served:
Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School: K-8
Clarksdale Collegiate Prep: 9-12
Award Amount: $1,200,000
Term: 4 Years (ending September 30, 2027)
Current Year: $300,000 has been approved (ending on September 30, 2024)
At SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy (CPSA), our mission is to empower and inspire our students to become change makers for the global good. We strive to provide a rigorous and inclusive educational environment that nurtures their intellectual curiosity, fosters a passion for lifelong learning, and prepares them for success in college and beyond.
Address: 505 Union St. Canton, MS 390467
Telephone: (601) 206-4544
Email: info@sr1cpsa.org
Grades Served: K-1
Award Amount: $900,000
Term: 2 Years (ending September 30, 2027)
Current Year: $300,000 has been approved (ending on September 30, 2025)
The mission of RePublic Schools (“RePublic”) is to educate students in grades kindergarten through twelve and build the academic and character foundation necessary for success in the most demanding colleges and a life of active citizenship.
All students, regardless of their backgrounds, deserve to receive a high quality public education that prepares them to enter and graduate from the most competitive colleges.
RePublic recognizes that demographics need not be the determinant of one’s destiny, and a college education is the key variable in breaking the cycle of poverty. To enable all students to graduate from a competitive four-year college, RePublic maintains a dual focus on solid academic preparation combined with a mastery of personal discipline and character.
Revive Collegiate
Address: 5301 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39211
Telephone: (601) 345-1310
Email: info@republiccharterschools.org
Grades Served: K-3
Award Amount: $600,000
Term: 2 Years (ending September 30, 2025)
Current Year: $300,000 has been approved (ending on September 30, 2024)
Mississippi Global’s mission is to cultivate globally competitive students through a rigorous, internationally-focused academic program, which integrates foreign language acquisition, project-based learning, service learning, research-based academic interventions, and technological skills.
Address: 117 Bayou St, Shaw, MS 38773
Telephone: 662-579-8193
Email: info@globalpublicfoundation.org
Grades Served: 4-5
Award Amount: $1,500,000
Term: 5 Years (ending September 30, 2029)
Current Year: $300,000 has been approved (ending on September 30, 2025)
Peer Reviewer 1 | Peer Reviewer 2 | Peer Reviewer 3 | Peer Reviewer 4 | Peer Reviewer 5
Resources
Allowable Cost Guide
This guide is intended to assist eligible applicants and subgrantees in planning and preparing allowable budgets, budget amendments, and drawdown requests under the Charter Schools Program (CSP)—State Entity grant.
Grant Kickoff Webinar
Mississippi First will host a Kickoff webinar on June 16, 2025, for charter school applicants who have submitted their letter of intent to the MS Charter School Authorizer Board AND are invited by the Authorizer Board to attend the Eligible Applicant Orientation Webinar, which they will host on April 4, 2025. During this CSP Webinar Kickoff Webinar, Mississippi First will provide an overview of the following:
• Who we are and our role in the state’s charter sector
• What CSP funding is
• Availability of CSP funds
• The requirements
• The subgrant application process
You will be notified via email after the Authorizer Board’s orientation webinar and provided with the Zoom information.
We look forward to seeing you (via Zoom) on Monday, June 16, 2025.
CSP Communication Request Form
In an effort to ensure we provide our subrecipients with the most accurate and efficient service, Mississippi First (MSF) has created a Communication Request Form to aid us in answering and responding to questions effectively. Please use this form to submit questions.
FAQ
This FAQ is intended to provide guidance to Charter Schools as they complete their Charter School Program (CSP) Application Proposal.
Request for Proposals or Quotes and Calls for Assistance
As part of this grant, Mississippi First will hire experts on an ongoing basis to support the improvement of charter school policy in Mississippi. Please regularly check this page for new RFPs.
Closed Requests
Financial Technical Assistance
Contract has been awarded.
Peer Reviewers
We are currently not looking for peer reviewers. Please check back later, as we often need new reviewers in future rounds.
Financial Systems Expert
Contract awarded to Afton Partners in conjunction with EdOps
Third-Party Authorizer Evaluation
An evaluator has been awarded the contract.
CSP Coordinator
Position has been filled.
For any questions about the Charter Schools Program grant and the subgrant programs Mississippi First administers, please reach out to our Charter Schools Program Coordinator, Linda Caldwell.