Charter School Grant Opportunities

Charter School Facilities (CSF) Grant

In 2017, the Tennessee legislature established a public charter school facilities program, pursuant to which state funds are allocated annually to charter schools to assist with acquiring and improving facilities. Since its inception, over $100M has been allocated.

In 2025, the legislature approved a one-time allocation of $20 million for FY26, which will be distributed on a per-pupil basis to every Tennessee charter school that was open in the 2024-25 school year based upon the final Average Daily Membership (ADM). New and expanding charter schools will receive allocations in October based upon the true-up ADM.

 

Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant 

The Charter Schools Program grant is a federal grant awarded to the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) by the United States Department of Education (USED). The main objective of this grant is to increase the number of high-quality charter schools in Tennessee through the awarding of subgrants to newly authorized charter schools.  Two types of grants are available:

  • Planning and Implementation Grant:  For newly authorized charter school operators for the purpose of designing, planning, and implementing a new school
  • Replication Grant:  For charter school operators currently operating in the state of Tennessee with demonstrated academic, financial and operational success to replicate the successful school model
  • CSP Grant Fall 2025 Application - PDF  | DOC

 

Item Details
Grant Name TN Charted Schools Program Grant
Funding Source U.S. Department of Education
Grant Project Director Crystal McCarver (Crystal.McCarver@tn.gov)
Maximum Subgrant Award $750,000
Award Type Discretionary - Competitive
Subgrant Types

Planning and Implementation

Replication

Overall USED Grant Period December 6, 2022 through September 30, 2027
Individual Subgrant Period(s) Post Award to 24 months after school opening
Planning Period Up to 18 months prior to school opening
Implentation Period School opening to end of year 2 of operation
Event Details
CSP Application Released August 1, 2025
CSP Application Due October 1, 2025
Awards Announced November 3, 2025
Planning Period Up to 18 months prior to School Opening
Implementation Period School Opening to End of Year 2 of Operation

The following schools received $750,000 for planning and implementation of a new charter school or replication of a successful model:

Cohort 2025
LEAD Southeast Elementary
Memphis Grizzlies Prep STEAM School for Girls
Cohort 2024
American Classical Rutherford
ChattAcademy Community School
Empower Memphis Career and College Prep
Encompass Community School
Invictus Nashville Charter School
Invictus Nashville Charter School
Knoxville Preparatory School
Nurses Middle College
Rutherford Collegiate Prep
Springs Public Schools Tennessee-Empower Academy
Tennessee Career Academy
Tennessee Nature Academy