Charter Schools Program (CSP) Start-up Grants

The RFP and other documents are posted on NYSED's Funding Opportunities webpage. Description of Goods or Services Sought The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is seeking applications from eligible charter school education corporations for Charter Schools Program (CSP) Start-up Grants. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide financial assistance to support the planning, program design, and initial implementation of new charter schools authorized by either the Board of Regents or the SUNY Board of Trustees. Grant funds may be used for allowable start-up activities, including planning, staffing, professional development, educational materials, technology, equipment, community engagement, transportation start-up costs, minor facility repairs, and other allowable expenditures necessary to prepare for the operation of a new charter school. Eligibility or Qualification Requirements Eligible applicants are charter school education corporations operating a new charter school authorized by either the Board of Regents or the SUNY Board of Trustees. The education corporation must apply on behalf of the charter school it operates. Nonprofit applicants must be prequalified in the Statewide Financial System (SFS) by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 18, 2026. Proposals received from nonprofit applicants that are not prequalified by the proposal due date will not be evaluated and will be disqualified from further consideration. Subcontracting The RFP includes Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) participation requirements. Applicants are required to comply with the M/WBE requirements set forth in the RFP. Other Information Approximately $12,000,000 is available for this funding opportunity. The grant project period is October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029. Funding beyond Year One is contingent upon State legislative appropriations and the grantee demonstrating progress toward meeting the goals and objectives of the grant project. Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 18, 2026. Questions regarding the RFP must be submitted by August 21, 2026, and a Questions and Answers Summary will be posted by August 28, 2026. Submission of a Notice of Intent by September 4, 2026, is encouraged but is not required. Business enterprises awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: Math, Engineering, and Science Academy Charter High School 2 Kwenda Collegiate Girls Charter School Green Tech Rochester Elementary Charter School for Boys Diamond Charter School Capital Prep Charter Schools NY (for Capital Preparatory Charter School New Rochelle) Haven Charter High School Urban Dove Team Charter School V Lamad Arverne Academy Charter School Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools (for Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter School 2) American Dream Charter School II Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) SDVOB Goal: 0.00% Minority / Women Business Enterprise contracting goals (MWBE) Total MWBE Goals: 30.00% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise contracting goals (DBE) DBE Goal: 0.00%