The Latest Federal Charter Schools Program: 2022 Annual Report is here!
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released an annual report of the current status of the Charter Schools Program (CSP), the impact of CSP on communities around the country, and the demand for an increase in funding for the program.
Click Here to Download the Report
Study Finds Higher Learning Gains in San Antonio Charter Schools
The Center for Research and Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University examined the academic performance of public K – 12 schools in San Antonio during the 2018 – 2019 school year and found that San Antonio charter students’ learning gains exceeded the state average in reading.
NACSA Releases Authorizing by the Numbers Report
The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) released a comprehensive study of the numbers and types of authorizers, the size of their portfolios, and how authorizing has changed from 2016 to 2020.
Click Here for the Full Authorizing by the Numbers Report
2022 Charter Schools Program Competitions: Application Open!
The application window for Charter Schools Program (CSP) Developer and State Entity competitions is now open! Applications will be accepted through Friday, August 5.
Click Here for the Developer Competition Info
Click Here for the State Entities Competition Info
Register for Building Your Charter School Facility Team: A Guide to Working with Architects
Join LISC, AKA Studio LLC, Michael Marshall Design, and Urban Projects Collaborative at 2pm on 5/18 for a webinar to learn more about what an architect is, the role they play on your facility team, and the critical services they provide to charter schools.
Survey Finds Charter School Teachers Engaged More Students During the Pandemic
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) recently released findings suggesting that charter school teachers reported more engagement with their students than teachers in district schools, as well as more real-time interactions and school support.
New Mexico Families Welcome New Facilities Funding for Charter Schools
Passed with unanimous and bipartisan support from both the House and Senate chambers, a bill to improve charter school facilities funding in New Mexico became law earlier this month. This new law will create a $10 million Charter School Facility Revolving Loan Fund, among other wins.
New Research Shows Charter Schools Drive Gains For All Public School Kids
As charter schools expand, a pair of new studies finds broad and statistically significant gains for both charter schools’ own students and for kids in nearby district schools.
Boston Study Offers Latest Evidence that Charter Schools Boost Voting
Charter schools in Boston, considered some of the strongest in the country, improve voter participation as well as academic outcomes like standardized test scores, according to a recently released study. The effects are significant in size and may be attributable to charters’ success in inculcating noncognitive skills, the authors find.
Celebrate National Charter School Choice Week!
National Charter School Week is the world’s largest celebration of opportunity in education. School choice means giving parents access to the best K-12 education options for their children. The Week is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort. We welcome all of you to get involved and to have your voices heard!
Register for the 2022 National Charter Schools Conference
The 2022 National Charter Schools Conference will be held in-person in Washington, DC from June 19-22. Join top charter school educators, advocates, and leaders from around the country for sessions and networking events!
U.S. Treasury Awards $180.3 Million to Support CDFI Investment in Low-Income and Distressed Communities
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) awarded 265 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) $180.3 million in Financial Assistance (FA) awards. Several of these awards will directly benefit charter school leaders seeking facility financing from CDFIs.
New Resource to Build Positive School Climate
Learning Policy Institute released a new brief to help inform school leaders’ efforts to create safe, inclusive learning environments for all students. The report includes evidence for restorative approaches and tips about how to shift the culture of schools toward restorative justice.
Three Wins for Education in the 2021 Elections
When families took to the polls for the 2021 elections, they prioritized education and charter-friendly candidates. Read on to learn on about three of the most education-focused races that went the way of families this week.
FY 2018 Credit Enhancement Program Appropriation Level Could Reach Upwards of $40 million or More
The CSLC is pleased to see that the Credit Enhancement program received no less than $40 million in funding for the remainder of FY 2018 in the recently passed spending deal. This allocation is only $6 million less than the Department of Education allotted for the CE program last year.
CSLC Statement on the NAPCS Report: Strengthening Federal Investment in Charter School Facilities
The CSLC commends the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools on the recent publication of Strengthening Federal Investment in Charter School Facilities. The suggestions put forth in the paper aim to broaden the reach of federal investments and help equalize access to facilities for charter schools. Please click on the link for the full statement and paper.
CSLC Statement on the Trump Administration’s 2019 Budget Proposal
The CSLC released a statement on the Trump administration’s 2019 budget proposal, which includes $500 million for the Charter Schools Program and up to $100 million for charter school facilities financing. Please click on the link for the full statement.
CSLC Letter to Senate Finance Committee on Protection of NMTC and Tax Exempt Bonds
The CSLC sent a letter to Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden of the Senate Finance Committee, urging the Committee to protect the NMTC program and tax exempt bonds, both of which are vital federal resources for financing charter school facilities. To read the letter, click below.
CSLC Statement on H.R. 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
The CSLC released a statement in response to H.R. 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which proposes to repeal the New Markets Tax Credit and various bond programs. To read the statement, click below.
Department of Education Announced FY 2017 Credit Enhancement Program Grantees
On September 30, 2017, the U.S. Department of Education announced $56.25 million in awards for the Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program competition. Please click on the link to see the CSLC’s full statement on the awards.
CSLC Statement on the Trump Administration’s 2018 Budget Proposal
The CSLC released a statement on the Trump administration’s 2018 budget proposal, which includes $500 million for the Charter Schools Program and up to $100 million for charter school facilities financing. Please click on the link for the full statement.
U.S. Department of Education Announces FY 2017 Credit Enhancement Application
The U.S. Department of Education released the FY 2017 application for the Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program. The application is due May 11, 2017. Please click on the link for more information.
National Charter Schools Conference 2017!
June 11-14, 2017 -The 2017 National Charter Schools Conference will be held June 11-14 at the Walter E. Washington Center in Washington, D.C.! Join us at the conference for more than 130 engaging sessions and networking events!
U.S. Department of Education Awards $16 Million for FY 2016 Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program
The U.S. Department of Education listed two awards totaling $16 million for FY 2016 for the Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program.
See the 2016 CE Recipients Here.
National Charter Schools Conference 2015!
June 21-24, 2015 -The 2015 National Charter Schools Conference will be held June 21-24 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Join us at the conference for more than 135 engaging sessions and networking events!
The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) release a joint report on cooperation between charter school lenders and authorizers
May 25, 2015 – The LISC and NACSA joint report presents an overview of charter school lending and charter school authorizing and suggests areas of collaboration between the two sectors.
Read the LISC and NACSA report here.
U.S. Department of the Treasury Awards $325 Million for Inaugural Round of CDFI Bond Guarantee Program
September 30, 2013 – The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced three awards to support $325 million in bonds to support long-term financing for CDFI investments in low-income communities, creating a new source of capital to finance public charter schools.
Read the Department’s Press Release for the FY 2013 awards here.
U.S. Department of Education Awards $12 Million for FY 2013 Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program
July 17, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Education announced three awards totaling $12 million for FY 2013 for the Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program.
Read the Department’s Press Release on the FY 2013 awards.
U.S. Department of the Treasury’s CDFI Fund Awards New Markets Tax Credit Allocations for 2012; CSLC Members Awards $375 Million for Charter Schools and Other Community Assets
April 24, 2013 – The CDFI Fund has awarded 85 organizations nationwide allocations of New Markets Tax Credits for 2012. Congratulations to several CSLC members on successful applications for this extremely competitive program that received 282 applications for the 2012 round! A full list of allocatees can be fund on the CDFI Fund’s website.
| CSLC Member | Headquarters | Awards Amount | Service Area |
| Civic Builders | New York, NY | $15 million | National |
| Community Loan Fund of New Jersey | New Brunswick, NJ | $30 million | Statewide |
| Enterprise Community Partners (ESIC New Markets Partners LP) | Columbia, MD | $50 million | National |
| Florida Community Loan Fund | Orlando, FL | $40 million | Statewide |
| Low Income Investment Fund | San Francisco, CA | $55 million | National |
| NCB Capital Impact | Arlington, VA | $40 million | National |
| Nonprofit Finance Fund | New York, NY | $40 million | National |
| Raza Development Fund | Phoenix, AZ | $35 million | National |
| Self-Help Ventures Fund | Durham, NC | $25 million | National |
| The Reinvestment Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $45 million | National |
CSLC and National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) Urge Congress to Permanently Extend the New Markets Tax Credit
April 15, 2013 – The Charter School Lenders’ Coalition and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools sent a letter to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education Task Force to permanently extend the New Markets Tax Credit Program at an increased allocation authority of $5 billion per year. As both chambers of Congress are considering comprehensive tax reform, CSLC and its partners are dedicated to protecting this important resource to attract private capital for charter school facilities financing.