As National Charter Schools Week 2025 concludes, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has unveiled a significant funding increase for the Charter Schools Program (CSP).
The program’s budget will rise by $60 million in FY 2025, bringing the total to $500 million. This announcement highlights the Trump Administration’s continued support for charter schools and educational choice across the country.
Increase in Funding and New Grant Opportunity
Secretary McMahon’s announcement emphasizes the growing importance of charter schools as quality educational options for students and families.
The additional $60 million in funding will further strengthen the program, allowing more charter schools to expand and serve students in need of diverse educational opportunities.
In addition to the funding boost, McMahon revealed a new initiative through the CSP: the Model Development and Dissemination Grant Program.
This new grant will support the sharing of successful strategies and best practices from innovative charter schools, enabling other schools to adopt proven methods that lead to better student outcomes.
The Department of Education has also announced five new competition categories under the CSP for FY 2025. These include:
- State Entities
- State Facilities Incentive Grants
- Credit Enhancement
- Charter Management Organizations
- Charter School Developers
These new competitions aim to further expand the reach and impact of charter schools, offering additional resources and support for state entities and charter school developers across the country.
Historic Investments in Charter Schools
“In celebrating the pivotal role that charter schools play to deliver high-quality options for students and families, I’m excited to share that the Trump Administration is making historic investments in the Charter Schools Program,” Secretary McMahon said.
She highlighted not only the $60 million increase in the program’s budget but also the additional $60 million in funding this year. This reflects the Administration’s commitment to improving education choice and fostering innovation in the education sector.
McMahon added that the funding increase and new grant opportunities aim to ensure more choices, better outcomes, and life-changing opportunities for students and their families. These investments are a key part of the Department’s strategy to strengthen charter schools and improve educational equity.
Support for Charter Schools Under the Trump Administration
Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. Department of Education has taken several actions to support charter schools, including:
- Withdrawing two Notices Inviting Applications (NIA) for charter school programs issued at the end of the Biden Administration, which were seen as burdensome and misaligned with the goals of charter schools.
- Releasing $33 million in grant funding for Charter Management Organizations under the previous year’s Charter School Program competition.
- Reducing federal micromanagement of state Charter School Program grants to give states more flexibility in managing their educational programs.
- Publishing a full suite of six Charter Schools Program grant competitions to support various facets of the charter school system.
Secretary McMahon’s announcement underscores the Trump Administration’s ongoing commitment to expanding educational opportunities through charter schools.
With the additional funding and new grant programs, the Department of Education aims to empower more families with educational choices and provide charter schools with the resources they need to succeed.
As National Charter Schools Week 2025 ends, this funding boost marks a pivotal moment for the future of charter schools and their role in shaping the educational landscape in the U.S.
