WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House and Senate FY 2020 spending agreement reached yesterday provides $440 million for the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP), maintaining FY 2019 funding levels, the highest-ever funding level in the program’s more than 20-year history. The CSP supports the creation of new charter schools, which are all public schools, as well as the replication and expansion of existing high-performing charter schools.
National Alliance President and CEO Nina Rees has released the following statement:
“We are relieved by this outcome. However, we remain deeply concerned about the estimated 5 million students who are waiting for their chance to attend a high-quality charter school but can’t because there is no available space at a charter school in their community. We hope that Congress keeps these students at the center of the debate on funding levels for the federal Charter Schools Program for FY 2021.
“We are grateful for the important funding increases for Title I, IDEA, Title IV and 21st Century Learning Communities, all of which provide critical supports to the many charter school students who face significant challenges.
“We thank Senate Labor HHS-Education Subcommittee Chairman Blunt (R-MO), and Ranking Member Murray (D-WA), House Labor HHS-Education Subcommittee Chairwoman DeLauro (D-CT) and Ranking Member Cole for their support of the Charter Schools Program and the students who depend upon it.”
