Charter School Programs CFDA 84.282A | Apply Online

Charter School Programs (CSP) State Grants (CFDA 84.282A) - FAQs

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is the Charter School Programs (CSP) grant opportunity, CFDA 84.282A, a discretionary (competitive) grant competition administered by the U.S. Department of Education to support charter school efforts at the state level.

2) Is this a new CSP program or a change to the FY 2009 program rules?

No. The purpose of this posting is not to change the program. It reopens the FY 2009 competition and provides a new submission deadline due to technical issues that affected timely electronic submissions through Grants.gov. The legally controlling requirements remain those in the Federal Register notice originally published on December 15, 2008 (73 FR 76014), with additional submission instructions referenced at 73 FR 76016.

3) Why was the application window reopened?

The Department reopened the competition because Grants.gov experienced unusually heavy traffic and system slowness on the original deadline date (January 29, 2009), which affected applicants ability to submit electronically on time.

4) What is the new application deadline for the reopened competition?

The new deadline for transmittal of applications is February 25, 2009.

5) What was the original deadline that experienced technical problems?

The original deadline was January 29, 2009, when Grants.gov had unusually heavy traffic and slowness.

6) Where must applications be submitted?

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov "Apply" site, using the application package posted on Grants.gov for the reopened competition.

7) Do applicants have to use a specific application package on Grants.gov?

Yes. Applicants must use the current application package posted on Grants.gov for the reopened competition.

8) What happens if an application is submitted using the older Grants.gov package?

Submissions created with the older application package (the version available through the original January 29 deadline) would be rejected by Grants.gov.

9) Where can applicants find the complete and legally controlling requirements?

The complete and authoritative requirements are in the official Federal Register notice for the FY 2009 CSP competition, originally published December 15, 2008 (73 FR 76014). Additional submission instructions are referenced at 73 FR 76016. Applicants are directed to rely on the Federal Register publication for the full, legally controlling requirements.

10) What kinds of details are in the Federal Register notice that are not fully included in the synopsis?

The synopsis indicates that detailed instructions and requirements are in the Federal Register notice, including pre-application and application requirements, performance measures, priorities, program contacts, and other submission requirements, including the specific section addressing electronic submission procedures.

11) Who is eligible to apply?

The intended eligible applicants are State Educational Agencies (SEAs), but only in states that have a state statute specifically authorizing the establishment of charter schools.

12) The Grants.gov listing shows "Others" as the eligible applicant type. Does that mean non-SEAs can apply?

The listing may display an eligible applicant type as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," but the eligibility statement clarifies that the intended eligible applicants are SEAs meeting the statutory charter authorization condition.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated for this competition.

14) What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $95,838,000.

15) How many awards are expected?

The opportunity indicates an expected 10 awards.

16) What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument type is a grant.

17) What is the activity/category area for this opportunity?

The activity category is education.

18) What does it mean that this is a discretionary grant competition?

It means awards are made competitively based on the U.S. Department of Education published selection criteria and priorities described in the official notice.

19) When was this funding opportunity posted and when was it archived?

The funding opportunity was posted on February 18, 2009, and later archived on March 27, 2009.

20) Who should be contacted for technical help accessing the full announcement electronically?

Technical assistance for difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically is directed to Julius Cotton (ED Grants.gov FIND System Admin) at (202) 245-6140 or julius.cotton@ed.gov.

21) Who should be contacted for program questions?

Programmatic questions are directed to program managers Leslie Hankerson or Jeanne Siegel at the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 4W249, Washington, DC 20202-5970. Phone numbers listed are (202) 205-8524 or (202) 205-5482. Email contacts include Leslie.Hankerson@ed.gov and the listed program manager email in the synopsis.

22) Where is the program office located?

The program contacts are listed at the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 4W249, Washington, DC 20202-5970.

23) Does the reopening change the selection criteria, priorities, or performance measures?

The synopsis indicates the reopening is an administrative remedy to address electronic submission issues and that the rest of the competition rules remain anchored to the December 15, 2008 Federal Register notice. For the controlling selection criteria, priorities, and performance measures, applicants must consult the Federal Register notice.

24) What is the main reason applicants are told to consult the Federal Register notice?

Because the synopsis is not the complete set of rules. The notice emphasizes that the Federal Register publication contains the complete, legally controlling requirements for the reopened competition.