(WASHINGTON, DC) The Office of the State Superintendent of Education announced today the release of the 2007 Flexible Funds RFA for public charter schools chartered within the District. The funds received under this RFA may be used to offset a one time cost, as seed money, or as funds for public charter schools to enhance, improve or implement programs or services; however, the funds made available under the Flexible Funds grant shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, any other Federal, State, or local funds that would otherwise be available to carry out the programs or services identified by the applicant. The funding made available by this RFA will assist public charter schools to enhance, improve, or implement programs or services such as, but not limited to, art, music, or sports programs, playgrounds, science laboratories, computers, vocational education equipment, libraries, mental health services, staff development, leadership development, innovative program models, and the staffing to implement such activities.
Eligibility:
- A public charter school campus duly chartered by either the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board or the District of Columbia Board of Education, that had a student body formally enrolled in the 2006-2007 school year and is in the process of actively recruiting students for the 2007-2008 school year is eligible to apply for a Flexible Funds grant and will receive priority over public charter schools having an enrolled student body for the first time during the 2007-2008 school year.
- A public charter school campus duly chartered by the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board which will have an enrolled student body for the first time during the 2007-2008 school year is eligible to apply for a Flexible Funds grant. However, such a public charter school will only receive funds based on the availability of any remaining funds not granted to public charter schools that had a student body formally enrolled in the 2006-2007 school year. Thus, public charter schools opening for the first time in the fall of 2007 may or may not receive a Flexible Funds Grant and such a grant amount may not be equal to the amount designated for eligible public charter schools already in existence and continuing in operation.
- A charter school with multiple campuses may submit a consolidated application on behalf of more than one of its campuses.
Individuals are not eligible to apply. Each applicant school shall provide evidence to show that its school is established and has a student body formally enrolled for courses in the 2006-2007 and has students enrolled for 2007-2008 school years or is actively recruiting students for the 2007-2008 school year; is in good standing with its charter school Authorizer; has resources and management procedures sufficient to implement the proposed project; and can provide project accountability. Applicants must be in good standing and be qualified to do business in the District of Columbia.