Funding Booklet
IN THIS BULLETIN
 Federal Funding
This Funding Booklet defines and explains the major funding
opportunities available to charter schools, the requirements for receiving
funding, the funding applications and estimated funding amounts.
The following is a list of Federal, State and Federal & State funding titles in
this booklet. To access more information about a specific grant or
program, simply click the title.
 State Funding
 Federal & State
Funding
California Charter
Schools Association
www.calcharters.org
Knowledge
Management Team
Funding Provided by
the U.S. Department of
Education
FEDERAL FUNDING TITLES INDEX
21st Century Community Learning Centers
Carol M. White Physical Education Program
California Charter Building Fund
E-Rate
Economic Impact Aid
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
Impact Aid Section 8003, Payments for Federally Connected Children
Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program
Model Development & Dissemination Grants Program – Arts in Education
National School Lunch Program
Professional Development for Arts Educators (PDAE) Program
Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP)
Rural Education Achievement Program
Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities Program
State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants Program
Voluntary Public School Choice
STATE FUNDING TITLES INDEX
Beginning Teacher Support & Assessment Program (BTSA)
Charter School Revolving Loan Fund
Charter Schools Categorical Block Grant
Class Size Reduction K-3
Economic Impact Aid
Education Technology K-12 Voucher
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General Purpose Block Grant
Low Incidence Entitlements
New Charter School Supplemental Categorical Block Grant
SB 740 Facility Grants
School Breakfast & Summer Food Start-Up or Expansion
State Mandates
Supplemental Hourly Instruction
Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE)
FEDERAL & STATE FUNDING TITLES INDEX
Consolidated Application
Federal Entitlements, Titles I-IV
Medi-cal Administrative Activities Program
Special Education
FEDERAL FUNDING
21st Century Community Learning Centers
Funding for programs that focus on improving academic achievement, services that supplement a school’s
academic program and family literacy and other educational development services. LEAs, cities, counties,
community-based agencies, other public or private entities (including faith-based organizations) and a
consortium of two or more agencies, organizations or entities are eligible to apply. The funding amount
varies and is dependent upon the availability of federal funds and the enactment of the federal and state
Budget Act.
Carol M. White Physical Education Program
These funds may be used for equipment to ensure that students are actively participating in physical
education activities. Funds may also be allocated toward staff and teacher training and education. LEAs
and community-based organizations are eligible to apply. The estimated range of new awards is $100,000
to $900,000.
California Charter Building Fund (CCBF)
In partnership with NCB Capital Impact and supported by the federal Department of Education Credit
Enhancement Grant, CCSA offers the California Charter Building Fund for member schools seeking facilities
loans. Whether CCSA member charter schools are looking to purchase land, build a charter school from the
ground up or make renovations to an owned or leased facility, the CCBF can help launch the project
successfully. To be eligible for the CCBF, an applicant must be a non-profit charter school entering at least
its third year in operation. Schools must have a demonstrated record of both academic success and fiscal
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responsibility. Priority will be provided to applicants with a student population with a majority that qualifies
for Free and Reduced Lunch or be locating in an area of failing district schools.
E-Rate
E-Rate is a Federal program, funded by a surcharge on telephone bills, to ensure that all eligible schools and
libraries have affordable access to modern telecommunications and Internet services. The program provides
substantial discounts on telecommunications and Internet access -- "Priority 1" -- as well as internal
connections and basic maintenance of network infrastructure (cabling, switches, wireless access points and
more) -- "Priority 2." Public schools including charters, nonprofit private schools, parochial schools, districts
and public libraries can apply individually or as part of a consortium. (Charter Management Organizations in
California should consider applying as a consortium.) Funding is provided in the form of a discount on
eligible services, depending on poverty level (free/reduced lunch percentage) and urban/rural status of the
school population. Discounts range from 20% (for schools with no students eligible for free/reduced lunch)
to 90% (for schools with at least 75% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch). Since funding is based on
how a school plans to use technology -- not on its enrollment -- amounts of funding can be substantial, even
for small schools, when implementing major infrastructure projects such as cabling and network equipment
for a new facility. E-Rate funding totals about $2.3 billion, annually, nationwide.
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)
This discretionary grant program provides funding to increase the number of low-income students who are
prepared for postsecondary education. The program provides six-year matching grants to states and
partnerships. There are two types of grants: state and partnerships. State grants must include an early
intervention and scholarship component. Partnership grants must have an early intervention component
but do not necessarily have to include a scholarship program. Institutions of higher education (IHE), LEAs
and state education agencies (SEAs) are eligible to apply. Partnerships consist of at least one college or
university, at least one low-income middle school and at least two other partners (i.e. community
organizations, businesses, religious groups, student organizations, SEAs, LEAs and parent groups). The
estimated total funding for this program is $323,212,000 and the estimated total number of awards is 209,
serving an estimated 748,000 students. The maximum award amount is $800 per student.
Impact Aid Section 8003, Payments for Federally Connected Children
This funding source helps educate federally connected children. These may be the children of members of
the uniformed services, children who live on Indian lands, children who live on federal property or federally
subsidized low rent housing, and children whose parents work on federal property. Section 8003 grants
include additional payments for children with disabilities for federally connected children who are eligible
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
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To qualify for section 8003 funding, a charter school must meet one of the following threshold eligibility
requirements:
1.
2.
The school must be serving eligible federally connected children numbering at least 400 in ADA
2. At least 3 percent of the total number of children in ADA must be such children.
Applications for Impact Aid, Section 8003 funds must be submitted annually, are available beginning in
November and must be submitted by January 31. A charter school must provide in its application specific
information about the local federal property, the number of children enrolled that are associated with the
federal property, and the total membership and average daily attendance in the schools. The average award
amount is: $880,000 per recipient.
Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program
This program offers funding to help enhance students’ reading skills by increasing student access to current
school library materials; well-equipped and technologically advanced school library media centers; and
certified library media professionals. LEAs serving at least 20 percent of students coming from families with
incomes below the poverty line are eligible to apply. The project period for this grant is up to 12 months and
the estimated range of awards is from $30,000 to $500,000. The average award amount is $350,000.
Model Development and Dissemination Grants Program – Arts in Education
This program provides funding for the creation and development of materials for the replication or
adaptation of the arts disciplines (music, dance, theater, visual arts and folk arts) into elementary and
middle school curricula. LEAs and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. The next round of
competition for the Model Development and Dissemination Gants Program funding is anticipated to open
in 2012. This Funding Booklet will be updated when dates for the next competition are known.
National School Lunch Program
A federally assisted meal reimbursement program, the National School Lunch Program aims to provide
nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day, thereby improving children’s
learning abilities by contributing to their physical and mental well being. A school’s lunch program must be
open to all enrolled students, and free or reduced price meals provided to students who qualify. Charter
schools are reimbursed for the number and types of meals served. Funding comes from two sources: the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and the State of California. State reimbursement is paid for all free and
reduced price meals. Federal reimbursement is paid for all free, reduced price and paid meals.
Charter schools submit a monthly reimbursement claim form to the California Department of Education.
The Department then reviews the form and the claim is sent to the State Controller's Office where a check is
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issued. Schools typically receive reimbursement within four to six weeks after submitting the
reimbursement claim form.
Professional Development for Arts Educators (PDAE) Program
This program funds high-quality professional development model programs in music, dance, drama and
media or visual arts, including folk arts, for arts educators and other staff in grades K through 12 in highpoverty schools. LEAs, including charter schools that are considered LEAs, acting on behalf of an individual
school or schools where 50 percent of the children come from low-income families, are eligible to apply.
LEAs must work with at least one of the following agencies in order to be eligible:
1. An IHE (Institution of Higher Education)
2. A state or local nonprofit or governmental arts organization
3. A state educational agency (SEA) or regional educational service agency
4. A public or private agency, institution or organization, including a museum, an arts education
association, a library, a theater or a community- or faith-based organization
The project period for this grant is up to 36 months and the estimated range of awards is $150,000 to
$350,000 for the first year of the project. Funding for the second and third years depends upon funding
availability and the approval of continuation awards.
Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP)
The Charter Schools Division of the California Department of Education manages the PCSGP, which offers
funding for providing public school choice to students, especially to those who are attending chronically
low-performing traditional public schools. Peer evaluators review the grants and awards are given on a
competitive basis to local educational agencies and nonprofit organizations that are likely to develop and
open high-quality charter schools. Preferences are given to schools that serve students whose home
attendance area contains a traditional public school that is in Program Improvement (PI), years 3, 4 or 5 and
has an Academic Performance Index (API) state decile rank of 1 or 2. Planning and Implementation grants
are available after a charter school is numbered by the State Board of Education. The recipient amount
ranges from $250,000 to $575,000.
Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP)
This program is designed to assist rural school districts in using federal resources more effectively to
improve the quality of instruction and student academic achievement. Please note that while REAP is
included in the Consolidated Application, charter schools do not qualify for REAP funding via the
Consolidated Application. However, some charter schools qualify for this program’s formula grants.
There are two separate formula grant programs that target rural LEAs: the Rural and Low-Income Schools
Program (RLIS) and the Small, Rural School Achievement Program (SRSA). For the RLIS, the funds go to
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eligible LEAs on a formula basis. For the SRSA, data are collected via the Consolidated Application and
forwarded to the U.S. Department of Education. SRSA funds are sent directly to eligible LEAs from the U.S.
Department of Education. Eligible charter schools will receive notification of their eligibility.
Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities Program
This program aims to ensure that parents of children with disabilities get training and support to help
improve their children’s lives by providing funding for parent information centers, community parent
centers and technical assistance to such centers. Nonprofit parent organizations may apply for parent
information center funds and community parent center funds. State education agencies, local educational
agencies and for-profit or nonprofit organizations may apply for technical assistance monies. Awards range
from $100,000 to $538,007.
State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants Program
This program offers funds to establish or enhance, and administer, per-pupil facilities aid programs for
charter schools. Federal funds are used to match programs funded with non-federal funds to make
payments, on a per-pupil basis, to provide charters with facilities financing. States that passed a state law
allowing per-pupil facilities aid for charter schools are eligible to apply. A per-pupil facilities aid program is
a program in which states make payments based on a formula using the number of pupils in order to provide
charters with facilities financing. The most recent State Charter School Facilities Incentive competition was
completed in 2009, with continuations expected to run through 2013. This Funding Booklet will be updated
when dates for the next competition are known.
Voluntary Public School Choice
Funds are for the establishment and expansion of intra-district, inter-district and open enrollment public
school choice programs. This will provide parents, especially those whose children are attending lowperforming public schools, with more educational options. State education agencies, local educational
agencies or partnerships that include both and other public, for-profit or nonprofit organizations are eligible
to apply.
Preferences will be given to applicants who (1) demonstrate an array of choices for students in participating
schools; (2) would have the greatest impact in letting students transfer from low-performing schools into
higher-performing schools and (3) propose partnerships to execute an inter-district approach to provide
students with greater public school choice. The next round of competition for Voluntary Public School
Choice funding is anticipated to open in 2012. This Funding Booklet will be updated when dates for the next
competition are known.
STATE FUNDING
After School Education and Safety Program
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The program’s purpose is to provide literacy, academic enrichment and safe alternatives for students in
kindergarten through ninth grade. After school programs must have two components: an education and
literacy component and an educational enrichment component. The education and literacy element must
include homework help and tutoring services to aid students in meeting state standards. The educational
enrichment element must offer additional services that supplement the school’s academic program,
including health/nutrition promotion, career and work preparation activities, community service-learning
and other youth development activities. The total amount of funding currently available is $550 million.
Beginning Teacher Support & Assessment Program (BTSA)
The state-funded Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) Program provides job-embedded
professional development to preliminary Multiple and Single Subject credential holders which fulfills their
Clear Credential requirements. There are over 150 BTSA programs in California that are organized into six
regions (clusters).
The BTSA Program is currently housed under the Tier III funding structure. This means no new programs are
being funded and the funding level for current programs has been frozen to the same percentage share of
the state budget they received in the 2008-2009 year. The average amount of funding is $3,400. Those
programs approved prior to 2009 continue to receive funding which flows directly to applicant LEAs,
including direct-funded charter schools. Under the current Tier III flexibility structure, the LEA can use
BTSA Program funding for "any educational purpose.” There is not currently a per teacher funding amount.
Charter School Revolving Loan Fund
This program offers low-interest loans (approximately 3.5 percent) to new charter schools. Start-up public
charter schools that have a locally approved charter petition, a California State Board of Education number
and a County District (CDS) code are eligible to apply. Conversion charter schools and charter schools
renewed by their charter-authorizing entity may not apply. Eligible charter schools that are incorporated
can apply directly for a loan; all other charter schools must apply with their charter-authorizing entities.
Disbursement will not occur earlier than six months prior to opening (Education Code Section 47652(b)).
The recipient amount is $250,000 maximum.
Charter Schools Categorical Block Grant
This grant covers 24 state-funded programs, in lieu of separate funding for participation in those specific
categorical programs, and in an amount per unit of average daily attendance in specified grade level spans.
State categorical programs, which are supported with funds that count towards meeting the Proposition 98
guarantee and meet either of two requirements, are included in the Categorical Block Grant. The two
requirements are as follows: 1) program is listed in Education Code Section 47634(a) as part of the block
grant, or 2) program was established on or after July 1, 1999 and statute does not allow or require charter
schools to apply separately in order to participate in the program.
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Charter schools do not have to apply for each program and are given a lump sum based on their ADA.
Categorical block grant funding is unrestricted, which means that funds do not have to be spent in support
of a particular program. Current categorical block grant rates are available here.
Class Size Reduction K-3
These funds are for school districts and charter schools that reduce one or more classes to 20 pupils per
certificated teacher. There is a grade-level priority for reducing class sizes; grade 1 is first priority, grade 2 is
second priority and kindergarten and grade 3 are last priority. The application is due 90 days after the
passage of the annual Budget Act. There are two funding options; Option 1 is for full-day instruction, which
is funded at $1,068 per pupil and Option 2 is for half-day instruction, which is funded at $534 per pupil.
The Budget Agreement, signed in February 2009 to address the tremendous budget shortfall that affected
state funding for both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 fiscal years, reduced penalties in the K-3 Class Size
Reduction Program for exceeding the 20:1 ratio. The change provided graduated penalties from five to 30
percent of the funded amount. Remember, when calculating funding for K-3 CSR, that, if the 20:1 ratio is
exceeded, not only does the penalty apply (i.e., reduced level of funding), but the revenue is calculated
based on 20 students. This means that if a school has a classroom with 25 students, it would receive 70
percent of the funding for 20 of the students. The revised penalties are as follows:
Up to 20.44 No penalty
20.45 to 21.44 5%
21.45 to 22.44 10%
22.45 to 22.94 15%
22.95 to 24.94 20%
24.95 or more 30%
These reduced penalties are scheduled to expire at the end of the 2014-2015 school year.
According to the School Fiscal Services Division of the California Department of Education, although the
number of classes a school district/charter school can claim for Class Size Reduction (CSR) funding is
capped by the total number of classes identified on its 2008-09 Operations Application, there is no cap on
the size of a class for K-3 CSR. Thus, a class of 20 pupils or fewer will be funded at the full per pupil rate,
while classes larger than 20.44 pupils will be funded at a reduced level.
Access to CSR funding is capped at the number of classes reported by a local education agency for the
2008-09 school year. Schools without a base identified in 2008-09 should not budget staffing or dollars for
K-3 CSR implementation.
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Economic Impact Aid (EIA)
Economic Impact Aid is a categorical program that is included in Part I of the Consolidated Application.
Charter schools receive additional block grant funding “in lieu” of EIA, based on qualifying pupil counts.
Qualifying students include those whose family income is at or below the Federal poverty level, and English
learner pupils. One student may be counted twice if s/he meets the income eligibility requirements and is
an English learner. The funding criteria require the use of Federal poverty level eligibilities (the California
Basic Educational Data System and attendance reporting) and the R30-LC annual Language Survey form.
Education Technology K-12 Voucher
The vouchers are a result of a settlement agreement between California consumers and the Microsoft
Corporation. The program’s purpose is to provide funding for districts to implement and support education
technology that fosters effective teaching and promotes student achievement. LEAs are eligible to apply.
County offices of education, direct-funded charter schools and State Special Schools need not meet the
state-approved technology plan requirement and can apply on their own behalf.
In order to receive vouchers, schools must serve a student population of which at least 40 percent are
eligible to receive free or reduced priced meals through the National School Lunch Program. Allocation is
based upon the total enrollment at eligible schools. The recipient amount is $5.31 per pupil.
General Purpose Block Grant
The primary state funding source for charter schools, this grant is a general-purpose entitlement, provided
from a combination of state and local sources, in lieu of revenue limit funding, and in an amount per unit of
average daily attendance in specified grade level spans. All charters receive the same rate per grade level.
The rate does not take into consideration variances in cost of living or revenue limits from district to
district.
Charters have two options for acquiring General Purpose Block Grant funds: (1) be a direct-funded school
(in which case the money goes directly to the charter school) or (2) be a locally funded school (money goes
to the sponsoring district, who then allocates the funds to the charter school). Direct-funded schools
receive their funds directly from the County Office of Education through their County Treasury Account.
Locally funded schools receive their funds through their district’s account. Please note that funding rates
are not affected by either option.
Grant
General Purpose Block Grant
Categorical Block Grant
K-3
$5,077
$400
2010-2011
4-6
$5,153
$400
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7-8
$5,306
$400
9-12
$6,148
$400
9
Total
$5,477
Economic Impact Aid (per eligible pupil): $318
Grant
K-3
General Purpose Block Grant
$5,077
Categorical Block Grant
$400
Total
$5,477
Economic Impact Aid (per eligible pupil): $318
$5,553
$5,706
$6,548
2011-2012*
4-6
$5,153
$400
$5,153
7-8
$5,306
$400
$5,306
9-12
$6,148
$400
$6,148
*Estimate only
Low Incidence Entitlements
This funding source supports the provision for specialized services for students with low incidence
disabilities as required under the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each pupil with low incidence
disabilities as defined in Education Code Section 56026.5: "hearing impairments, vision impairments, severe
orthopedic impairments, or any combination thereof." Expenditures are limited to supporting low incidence
specialized services such as interpreters, note takers, readers, transcribers, and others who provide
specialized services to students with low incidence disabilities. LEAs are eligible to apply and are
responsible for ensuring that the specialized services are provided by appropriately credentialed or trained
individuals.
SELPAs serving 25 or fewer students with low incidence disabilities receive a base funding of $2,000 plus an
additional amount added to the base that is equal to the per student rate times the number of students
reported with low incidence disabilities. SELPAs serving 26 or more students with low incidence disabilities
receive a base funding of $5,000 plus an additional amount added to the base that is equal to the per
student rate times the number of students reported with low incidence disabilities.
New Charter School Supplemental Categorical Block Grant
This funding source is available to charter schools that began operation during or after the 2008-09 fiscal
year and may be used for any educational purpose. The funding amount is calculated on the statewide
average for all the categorical revenues which were included in the Categorical Flexibility list, at $127 per
P2ADA, and is unrestricted. Locally funded charter schools that converted from a preexisting school
between the years 2008-09 and 2010-2011, are not eligible for this funding.
SB 740 Facility Grants
This reimbursement program assists charter schools located in low income areas with facilities rent and
lease expenditures. LEAs, nonprofit organizations, and other organizations or agencies are eligible to apply.
Eligibility requirements state that charters must operate in non-district or non-state funded facilities and
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reimbursement is for classroom-based programs only. An additional requirement is that charters must be
located in an elementary school attendance area in which at least 70 percent of the pupil enrollment is
eligible for free and reduced price meals or has a pupil population in which at least 70 percent of the pupils
are eligible for free and reduced price meals.
Charter schools may be reimbursed up to $750 per ADA for up to 75 percent of actual facilities rental and
lease costs. If there are insufficient funds to reimburse all eligible schools at the maximum level, available
funds will be prorated on a per ADA basis. Applications are available after the end of the fiscal year for
which reimbursements are sought. Funding availability is subject to the annual Budget Act.
School Breakfast and Summer Food Start-up or Expansion
Funds are for nonrecurring expenses incurred in initiating or expanding a (1) School Breakfast, serving
students in kindergarten through grade twelve or (2) Summer Food Service, serving children and youth
eighteen years of age and under during school breaks. Direct-funded charter schools may apply for one or
both grants. However, only one type of grant may be awarded per school site.
There are specific eligibility requirements for each program. For the School Breakfast Grant, at least 20
percent of enrolled students must be approved for free or reduced priced meals. For the Summer Food
Grant, site must be eligible for Summer Food Service. The recipient amount is $15,000.
State Mandates
The State Controller’s Office has issued a stop for mandated cost reimbursements.
The Association is monitoring the situation and will keep you posted as it progresses.
The California Constitution guarantees a subvention of funds for the imposition of mandated programs
upon school districts. For the purposes of subvention, the State Controller treats charter schools as school
districts. There are 40 education-based mandates. Below are some mandates that are included in the
reimbursement process:
TESTING
HEALTH
SAFETY
STUDENT-
Portions of STAR
Immunization
Records
Comprehensive
School Safety Plans
Truancy
Physical
Performance
Student Records
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DRIVEN
COURSESPECIFIC
Science
The process for filing Annual Reimbursement Claims is as follows:
1. Track activities for each program (on a fiscal year basis)
2. Log time and date activities were performed
3. Maintain proper supporting documentation for each program
4. Complete State-approved claim forms for each program
5. File by annual deadline (January 15 following the fiscal year claimed)
6. Track potential reductions by State Controller and payments made
Supplemental Hourly Instruction (SHI)
Until recently, Supplemental Hourly Instruction was a funding source with four sub-categories, each of
which had its own requirements. Beginning in 2008-09, SHI was moved to the unrestricted categorical
flexibility list, and schools and school districts receive funds based on their funding rate in 2007-2008.
These funds can be used for any educational purpose. SHI funding flexibilities will remain in effect until they
are amended or expire in 2015-16. Schools that did not exist in the 2007-2008 base year are not eligible for
SHI funding. However, new schools, that are not conversion charter schools, receive the New Charter
School Supplemental Categorical Block Grant.
Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Funding
The primary focus of the TUPE program is to provide students with the knowledge and skills that enable
them to be tobacco-free. The secondary focus is to develop California’s next generation of tobacco-free
advocates who represent a cross-section of California’s priority populations. Comprehensive evidencedbased tobacco-use prevention, youth development, intervention, and cessation programs are an important
part of this effort. LEAs, including charter schools, that have a tobacco-free policy certified by the California
Department of Education, are eligible to apply for TUPE funds. A competitive application process for grades
6 through 12 is available.
FEDERAL & STATE FUNDING
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Consolidated Application
The Consolidated Application (Conn App) is an application and reporting process for direct-funded charter
schools and school districts that are applying for federal categorical funding. The Conn App is comprised of
several categorical funding programs.
Title I, Part A, Basic Grant
A categorical program that is included in the Consolidated Application, this funding source provides
financial assistance to LEAs and schools with high percentages of economically-disadvantaged students to
help low-achieving students enrolled in the highest poverty schools meet state academic standards and
assessments. LEAs with an LEA Plan are eligible to apply.
Each of the program’s four components has a different eligibility requirement:
•
Basic Grants--LEA’s formula children must be at least two percent of district’s total age 5 to 17
population and 10 formula children
•
Concentration Grants: LEA’s formula children must be at least 15 percent of district’s total age 5 to 17
population or 6,500 formula children
•
Targeted Grants: LEA’s formula children must be at least five percent of district’s total age 5 to 17
population and 10 formula children
•
Education Finance Incentive Grants: LEA’s formula children must be at least five percent of district’s
total age 5 to 17 population and 10 formula children
Schools with approximately 45 to 50 percent free and reduced lunch (FRL) students will qualify for all four
programs. To calculate a rough estimate of the Title I funding available to your school, total the number of
FRL qualified students. Multiple this total by the state's "conversion factor" of 32.32%. This will determine
the number of students who qualify for Title I funds. For example, 100 FRL students x .3232 = 32 Title I
students. If the school qualifies for all Title I programs, the funding rate is roughly $1,200 for each of these
41 students, or $38,400.
Funds can be used to support effective, research-based educational strategies that close the achievement
gap between high-and low-performing students and enable the students to meet the state's challenging
academic standards. Such strategies include extra instruction in reading and mathematics, as well as special
preschool, after-school, and summer programs to extend and reinforce the regular school curriculum.
Title II, Part A, Teacher & Principal Training & Recruiting
This categorical program is included in the Consolidated Application. Its intent is to raise student academic
achievement by improving teacher and principal effectiveness, and increasing the number of highly
qualified teachers and principals. LEAs are eligible to apply. Funds can be used to help teachers prepare for
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exams, provide professional development and training (including technological innovations), and aid in the
recruitment and retention of highly qualified staff (i.e. merit pay).
ARRA Title II, Part D, Enhancing Education Through Technology (Competitive)
This program provides funds to improve student achievement through the use of technology in elementary
and secondary schools. Another program goal is to ensure technological literacy for all students by the end
of eighth grade through the integration of technology into teacher training and curriculum development.
LEAs that are eligible to receive Title I, Part A funding are eligible to apply. Applicants must have a
technology plan approved by the CDE that meets state and federal guidelines and requirements. LEAs not
receiving Title I, Part A funding may participate in the program if they apply as a group with an LEA that
receives funds under Title I, Part A. Funds are allocated based on the percentage of Title I students.
Title III, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Students
This formula sub-grant ensures that all limited-English proficient (LEP) students attain English proficiency
and meet state and student academic achievement standards. LEAs that reported the enrollment of one or
more LEP students on the R-30, Language Census Report (Spring 2006) are eligible to apply. Funds are
distributed to states based on a formula that takes into account the number of immigrant and LEP students
in each state. LEAs scheduled to receive a sub-grant of more than $10,000 may apply directly via the
Consolidated Application. LEAs scheduled to receive a formula sub-grant of less than $10,000 must apply as
a member of a consortium. The total funding of the consortium members must equal $10,000 or more. The
recipient amount is $95 per eligible student.
Title IV, Part A, Safe & Drug-Free Schools & Communities
A categorical program that is included in the Consolidated Application, which provides funding for the
development of comprehensive drug/alcohol, tobacco and violence prevention programs and activities in
order to promote academic achievement through a safe learning environment. LEAs that have an approved
LEA Plan, including an approved Goal 4 of the Plan, are eligible to apply. The amount per average daily
attendance (ADA) is $5.
Medi-Cal Administrative Activities
The Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (MAA) Program offers a way for Local Governmental Agencies
(LGAs), including charter schools, to obtain federal reimbursement for the cost of certain administrative
activities necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the Medi-Cal program. Approved
activities include:
 Medi-Cal outreach
 Facilitating the Medi-Cal application
 Non-emergency, non-medical transportation of Medi-Cal eligible individuals to Medi-Cal covered
services
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Contracting for Medi-Cal services
Program planning and policy development
MAA coordination and claims administration
Targeted Case Management (TCM) coordination and claims administration
Training
General administration
There are 16 MAA Activity Codes with summaries of qualifying and non-qualifying activities. These, and all
other supporting documents, training materials and manuals may be obtained from the Local Education
Consortium or JPA, and from the State of California Web site:
http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Pages/SMAA.aspx.
As a Federal Financial Participation (FFP) program, MAA requires the expenditure of allowable non-federal
funds for MAA program costs. Approved MAA costs are reimbursed at fifty percent (50%). Allowable costs
may include the salaries and benefits of the staff performing the activities, applicable operating expenses,
and appropriate overhead expenses. Revenue is unrestricted.
Special Education
California’s current special education funding model is based on Assembly Bill 602 (1997-98). The AB 602
funding model replaced and simplified the previous J-50 funding model with the legislative intent of
ensuring greater equity in funding across the state. This funding model provides both state and federal
special education funds to Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs), which are regional consortiums that
can be made up of one large school district or a group of local educational agencies (school districts, charter
schools, and/or county offices of education). Each SELPA has a unique funding rate, which is multiplied by
the total enrollment within the SELPA to calculate the SELPAs special education funding allocation.
Adjustments are made for decline and growth in enrollment, and SELPAs with above-average incidence of
students with high-cost needs also receive additional funding.
Each SELPA then develops a plan for distributing these funds to their member LEAs. Many SELPAs distribute
funds to their LEA members based on each LEAs total enrollment, while others award more funds to LEAs
with higher populations of students with disabilities or students with high cost needs. In addition, most
SELPAs retain a portion of this allocation to cover administrative costs or SELPA-operated special education
programs. A charter school's access to special education funding depends on the identity of that charter
school as either (a) a school of its authorizing LEA for special education or (b) its own LEA for special
education.
Charter schools operating as LEAs for special education will receive funds pursuant to the allocation plan
developed by the SELPA in which they participate. This generally means that the charter school will receive
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a portion of special education funding based on their total enrollment, and this funding must be used to
deliver services to students with disabilities enrolled at the charter school.
For charter schools operating as schools of their authorizer for purposes of special education, the authorizer
will generally retain all of the AB 602 funds generated by the charter school in return for providing special
education services for students enrolled in the charter school. In addition, the charter school will be
required to contribute a portion of its block grant funding to cover district-wide special education excess
costs. This is commonly referred to as an "encroachment fee" or "fair share contribution." The statewide
average is approximately $500.
FUNDING INFORMATION RESOURCES
U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/
California Department of Education
http://www.cde.ca.gov/
Other Available Funding through the California Department of Education
http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/af/index.aspx
Funding Outside of the California Department of Education
http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/of/ap/
The charter school funding components can be found at http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cs/as/csfundcomp.asp.
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