The federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) could see a funding increase this year. Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee approved a $20 million funding increase for the program. This is the “largest proposed budget increase for charter schools in several years,” according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. CSP is currently funded at $440 million and represents a fraction–just 1%–of federal spending on K-12 education, notes the Alliance. Yet the program provides important funding to start and expand public charter schools nationwide.
In a statement about the proposed funding increase, Eric Paisner, interim CEO at the Alliance, said:
We thank the House Appropriations Committee for recognizing the incredible value of public charter schools by proposing a total of $20 million in increased funding for the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP). Yesterday, the full House Appropriations Committee proposed a $10 million increase to the CSP appropriation. This follows an earlier proposed increase of $10 million by the Labor-HHS subcommittee last month, creating the largest proposed budget increase for charter schools in several years. This crucial funding source is the lifeline for creating high-quality, in-demand public charter schools across the nation.
Families across the country want more public education options, and CSP funding is essential to meet this growing demand. Over the past five years, charter schools have been the only public schools to experience enrollment growth, demonstrating their unique appeal and success …
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- Read the full statement from Eric Paisner.
- Learn more about the CSP.
- View the Alliance’s 2024 CSP Impact Report.
