Closed
California state funding opportunity
2026-27 Public Charter Schools Grant Program Start-Up Subgrant
CA Department of Education
- Portal ID171870
- Grant ID7552
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
The Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP) is a discretionary grant program administered by the California Department of Education, on behalf of the State Board of Education, through funding awarded by the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP). CSP grants awards to State Entities that, in turn, award subgrants to eligible applicants for the purpose of opening new charter schools and replicating and expanding high-quality charter schools.
Effective October 1, 2024, California was awarded a $93 million federal CSP grant and plans to distribute 70 PCSGP Start-Up Subgrants to new, replicating, and expanding charter schools. For fiscal year 2026-27, California has an approved pipeline and budget to award approximately 26 subgrants. The actual number and type of subgrants awarded during each Request for Applications (RFA) competition may vary based on demand. If all authorized awards are not approved for funding, California may open additional RFA competition events for new applicants until allocated funds have been awarded. The submission of the Intent to Apply Form is recommended by July 20, 2026. The Intent to Apply Form can be found on the California Department of Education web site by using the link provided in this posting. Please submit the Intent to Apply Form by email to PCSGP@cde.ca.gov. There are three PCSGP Start-Up Subgrants offered through this RFA: New School (Planning and Implementation), Replication, and Expansion. A newly established or conversion charter school may be eligible for a Planning, Implementation, or Replication subgrant provided that the school did not begin serving students prior to July 1, 2024. An established charter school may be eligible for an Expansion subgrant. PCSGP applications are reviewed by peer evaluators and awarded to school developers to assist in the development and initial operations of newly established/conversion/expanding charter schools. A developer, as defined by Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) section 4310(5), must have an approved charter petition from an authorized public chartering authority by the due date of the RFA. If the charter school has an approved charter petition, but is not yet serving students, the applicant must include proof of charter petition approval as part of the PCSGP application. All applicants must submit proof the applicant has notified the authorizer of their intent to apply for PCSGP start-up subgrant funds.
Timeline
Key dates
-
June 12, 2026
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
August 14, 2026
Applications close -
10/21/26
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Nonprofit
- Public Agency
- Additional info on eligibility
- The eligibility requirements described below are not exhaustive. Applicants should review the entire Request for Applications (RFA), including all eligibility requirements, definitions, assurances, and submission requirements, to determine eligibility for funding. PCSGP applicants must be a non-profit entity or Local Education Agency at the time of application submission. Individuals and for-profit entities will not meet eligibility requirements.
- Geography
- Supplemental funding has been structured to encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods pursuant to state law, provide parents/guardians and students with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system pursuant to state law, and provide additional support for targeted student groups and high-cost programs.
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- CA Department of Education
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
Grant Program Office
1-916-322-6029
PCSGP@cde.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- Federal
- Funding method
- Reimbursement(s)
- Notes
- The PCSGP is a subgrant program funded by the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP), authorized under Title IV, Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (20 United States Code [U.S.C.] 7221–7221j.
Government Grants Consulting
Federal, state, and local grant funding is highly competitive, and the gap between a complete application and a winning one usually comes down to strategy, compliance, and execution. GTC 360° Advisors supports organizations across the entire grant lifecycle — from identifying the right opportunities to managing the award long after it is won. The questions below cover how our grant consulting practice works and the organizations we serve.
What is government grant consulting, and how does GTC 360° Advisors help?
Government grant consulting means guiding an organization through the full grant lifecycle — research, eligibility review, strategy, writing, submission, and post-award compliance. GTC 360° Advisors manages this end to end, pairing grant writers, project managers, financial analysts, and compliance analysts to maximize the odds of an award and keep it in good standing afterward.What types of organizations can GTC 360° Advisors help win grants?
GTC 360° Advisors supports municipalities, state agencies, nonprofits, school districts, tribal governments, higher education institutions, and private companies pursuing grant funding. Clients have included the City of Los Angeles, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, Virginia Commonwealth University, and nonprofit partners such as the Walton Family Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners.What federal agencies has GTC 360° Advisors secured funding from?
GTC 360° Advisors has secured funding from agencies including the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Commerce (EDA and NIST), Education, and State, as well as FEMA, EPA, NSF, NIH, HRSA, SAMHSA, and the CDC. The firm has won over $860 million and counting in federal and state contracts and grants for its clients.Does GTC 360° Advisors handle state and local grants, or only federal?
GTC 360° Advisors pursues grant funding at the local, state, federal, and international levels. The firm’s advisor network is positioned in every state to help clients identify and compete for regional and state-level funding in addition to federal opportunities.What is GrantSignal AI, and how does it help find grant opportunities?
GrantSignal AI is GTC 360° Advisors’ AI-powered funding intelligence platform. It aggregates federal, foundation, and other public funding sources into a single dashboard, then uses AI to match opportunities to an organization’s mission, eligibility, and capacity — rather than relying on simple keyword search — and sends alerts as new, winnable opportunities appear.Does GTC 360° Advisors provide grant compliance and post-award management?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors manages grants through close-out, including compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Davis-Bacon labor standards, Section 3, environmental review requirements, and funder reporting obligations. The firm builds compliance systems and reporting frameworks so clients stay in good standing with federal and state grantors.What is GTC 360° Advisors’ track record on grant applications?
GTC 360° Advisors has historically maintained an 88%-plus win rate on the grant applications it has submitted, including a 100% win rate in 2024 across several highly competitive programs. Recent wins include $180 million in EDA Tech Hubs funding for three consortia and $20 million in EDA Recompete funding for the City of Birmingham, Alabama.Can nonprofits and higher education institutions work with GTC 360° Advisors on grants?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors regularly supports nonprofits and universities with grant strategy, writing, and administration, including current work with the Walton Family Foundation, Blue Meridian Partners, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Working With GTC 360° Advisors
Every engagement is scoped around the organization in front of us — its goals, its deadline, and the internal capacity it already has. Pricing, team assignments, and project milestones are agreed before any work begins, so there are no surprises mid-project. Below are the questions prospective clients and partners ask us most often.
How much does it cost to work with GTC 360° Advisors?
Pricing is customized to the scope, timeline, and budget of each engagement, with both hourly and fixed-fee options available depending on the deliverable. GTC 360° Advisors prices transparently, with no hidden fees for administrative or incidental work, and structures fees so clients gain a full team of senior professionals for less than the cost of a single in-house hire.What is the process for getting started with GTC 360° Advisors?
Engagements typically start with a conversation about your organization’s goals, funding needs, or growth targets, followed by a scoped proposal outlining services, team, and pricing. From there, GTC 360° Advisors assigns team members matched to the work and begins with research, strategy, or capture planning, depending on the engagement.How long does it take to see results from a grant or contract engagement?
Timelines vary by opportunity: some grant or contract cycles run a few months from research to submission, while others (large infrastructure or multi-year programs) take longer and continue through post-award management. GTC 360° Advisors sets clear project timelines and milestones at the start of every engagement so clients know what to expect.Does GTC 360° Advisors work with organizations outside the United States?
GTC 360° Advisors primarily supports U.S.-based government contracts, grants, and business development, but its public affairs and business development services extend internationally through its global partner network for clients running cross-border campaigns.Can I join the GTC 360° Advisors Network as a consultant or subject matter expert?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors welcomes applications from experienced firms and freelancers who align with its mission and values to join the GTC 360° Advisors Network, giving members access to mutual marketing, referrals, and new client opportunities.How do I contact GTC 360° Advisors to discuss a project?
You can reach GTC 360° Advisors at info@gtc360.com or through the contact form at gtc360.com/join-our-network. The firm typically responds to discuss goals, funding needs, or growth targets and outline next steps for an engagement.
Planning for the next cycle?
Tell us the opportunity and we will come back with an honest read on fit, the partners you would need, and what a compliant submission takes.