Secretary DeVos Announces $65 Million in New Grants for Public Charter Schools
April 10, 2020
Last Friday, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced “$65 million in new grant awards that will fund the creation and expansion of more than 100 high-quality public charter schools in underserved communities across the country.” The Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program—otherwise known as the Charter Schools Program (CSP)—is authorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Through the program, “more students will have the opportunity to move off waitlists into schools of their choice.” According to Secretary DeVos, investing in high-quality charter schools will provide “more options and more flexibility to help [students] find their right fit and shape their future success.” The vast majority of the funding—over 95%—“will go towards public charter schools in Qualified Opportunity Zones.”