CSP Resources for Applicants

If you have any questions, would like a copy of the Round 5 Introduction Webinar recording, or need assistance at any point during the application process, please email cspgrant@incschools.org.

All applicants will be required to complete an eligibility questionnaire on INCS’ application portal, Survey Monkey, prior to gaining access to the full application. Applicants should allow up to 10 business days for INCS review of the eligibility questionnaire and verification of eligibility.

The Round 5 RFA for the Charter Schools Program is coming soon.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

• Meet the federal definition of a charter school; or the federal definition of a charter developer;
• Have applied, or is intending to apply, for authorization from an authorized Illinois public chartering agency to open, replicate, or significantly expand a high-quality charter school; or intend to significantly expand without exceeding its existing enrollment cap;
• If applying for replication or expansion, meet the federal definition of a “high-quality charter school” as described under ESEA § 4310 (8); and,
• Not have previously received a subgrant under this program within the last five years, unless the applicant meets certain exceptions.
• To determine if your school qualifies for eligibility, please complete the eligibility questionnaire at https://incscsp.smapply.us/prog/lst/.
• If you have further questions, please email CSPgrant@incschools.org.

The CSP Allowable Costs Guides is intended to assist Charter School Program subgrant recipients in planning budgets, making budget amendments, and determining specific expenditures that may or may not be considered for reimbursement under the CSP grant. The CSP Allowable Cost Guide is available here.

Applicants should review federal rules for additional information on the allowability, reasonableness, and allocability of costs for federal grant awards:

• Section 4303(h) Local Uses of Funds
• U.S. Department of Education (ED) Charter Schools Program (CSP) Nonregulatory Guidance
• Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions
• Uniform Guidance. When using Federal funds to purchase equipment or services, a charter school must comply with the procurement standards set forth in the Department’s regulations at 34 CFR 74.40-74.48

To ensure subgrants are awarded to the most capable applicants, subgrant applications will be reviewed and scored by six members of a Peer Review Committee composed of charter school leaders, charter school board members, charter school parents, and an external expert on school development. These reviewers will receive training on the effective use of a peer review rubric to rate potential subgrant proposals.

To receive a subgrant, applicants must (a) earn at least 80% of the available points on the scoring rubric; and (b) be among the most highly rated applicants during a subgrant cycle given the finite number of awards INCS expects to make. Criteria for each question and the scoring rubric is available in the application package.

If you are interested in becoming a peer reviewer, please email CSPgrant@incschools.org.

INCS CSP Subgrantee Monitoring Guide is available here.

Applicants and subgrantees can direct questions to CSPgrant@incschools.org.