U.S. Department of Education Announces Grants Totaling More Than $1.2 Million to Charter Schools
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The U.S. Department of Education has awarded seven Charter School Exemplary Collaboration grants totaling more than $1.2 million to support collaboration between public charter schools, traditional public schools and school districts. Funds will be used to deepen the collaborations and share lessons learned with the education field.
Held for the first time this year, the Charter School Exemplary Collaboration grants program encourages high-quality charter schools, traditional public schools and school districts to share resources and responsibilities, build trust and teamwork, boost academic excellence, and provide students and their parents with a range of effective educational options.
"By sharing best practices, schools can work together to solve persistent challenges in public education," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. "It is so important that we break down traditional barriers and all work together to ensure that every child gets the world-class education they deserve."
The U.S. Department of Education's Charter Schools Program (CSP) has invested more than $255 million in charter schools this year. The purpose of the program is to increase financial support for the startup and expansion of these public schools, build a better national understanding of the public charter school model, and increase the number of high-quality public charter schools across the nation. More information about the Charter Schools Program is available from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement here.
Below is a list of the seven new grantees and the total amount of their awards.
| Grantee | State | Project | Total Award Amount |
| Arts and College Preparatory Academy | OH | Expand the Equality Project at Arts and College Prep to non-chartered public schools to improve their school climates by using theater to encourage conversation about bullying, exclusion, inequality, and social justice. | $102,900 |
| Boston Collegiate Charter School | MA | Expand the partnership with Jeremiah E. Burke High School, a Boston Public School, to improve its academic program and culture and raise its graduation rate. Boston Collegiate will share its online portal with Burke to identify students' academic weaknesses and provide remediation. | $203,800 |
| Community Day Charter Public School | MA | Expand partnership with Arlington Elementary School in Lawrence by providing a range of services including professional development for teachers, increased outreach and support for neighborhood families. | $199,963 |
| Highlander Charter School | RI | Expand Highlander's school-based literacy reform program in East Providence elementary schools. Train teachers in effective assessment in order to provide frequent student assessments, identify individual areas of weakness, and target remedial efforts. | $169,680 |
| IDEA Public Schools | TX | Develop partnership between two Austin schools—IDEA Allan and nearby Eastside Memorial High School. IDEA will work with Eastside school leadership on projects focused on student achievement and will help to create a neighborhood high school with the academic rigor needed to prepare students for college and careers. | $199,962 |
| Jumoke Academy Schools | CT | Jumoke is collaborating with Thurman L. Milner School, a Hartford Pre K-8 school. This partnership includes: (1) developing a plan to engage Milner parents; (2) improving the school environment by addressing non-academic factors such as students' social, emotional, arts, cultural, recreational and health needs, among others; (3) using Jumoke's model for effective school leadership; (4) providing teacher and staff support; (5) making effective use of school time; (6) implementing an effective curriculum and instructional program; and (7) using data to inform decision-making. | $200,000 |
| KIPP Metro Atlanta Collaborative | GA | KIPP Metro Atlanta Collaborative and B.E.S.T. Academy Middle School at Benjamin S. Carson (the Academy), an all-boys' school within Atlanta Public Schools, are partnering to implement strategies for improving student achievement and to develop a positive school climate at the Academy. This effort will increase student support for higher expectations, improve student attendance and discipline, provide professional development for teachers, and allow the principal to complete the KIPP School Leadership Principal Prep Program. | $160,000 |
| Total | $1,236,305 |
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