Senate bill secures $500M funding for federal Charter Schools Program

The Senate has approved an appropriations bill that maintains funding for the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP), allocating up to $500 million to support the creation and expansion of high-quality charter schools. The measure also includes provisions intended to increase flexibility and improve access for students across the country.

In a statement, Starlee Coleman, CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, expressed appreciation for the Senate’s decision. “We thank the Senate for its leadership in protecting the Charter Schools Program (CSP) by providing up to $500 million for communities to start, grow, and expand high-quality charter schools. This commitment also includes key flexibilities that will improve access to high-quality public charter schools for students nationwide. Though it represents less than 1% of total federal K–12 education spending, the CSP delivers one of the strongest returns on investment in public education. Charter school students gain about 16 additional days of learning in reading and 6 in math each year compared to their district school peers.

Families are calling for more options. CSP applications doubled this year, and 74% of parents would consider a charter school if one were available. Thanks to this support, students can continue to access life-changing opportunities they need and deserve.”

According to data from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, there are currently 8,150 charter schools operating nationwide—making up about 8.1% of all public schools—and serving approximately 3.7 million students, or 7.6% of all public school students. A significant proportion of these students come from low-income backgrounds or are Black or Latino.

Charter schools operate as free public institutions open to all students but have more autonomy compared with traditional public schools. In exchange for this flexibility, they are subject to greater oversight and accountability measures.

Research indicates that charter schools help students succeed academically and prepare them for future educational and career opportunities.

For more information about charter schools and related policies, visit www.publiccharters.org.