SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced 151 charter schools will share nearly $18 million in Charter School Facilities Grant Program funding. For the list of grantees, please visit Funding Results: Charter Schools Facilities.

"I have long been a supporter of high-quality charter schools that can serve as laboratories of education innovation," O'Connell said. "Charter schools can play a key role in preparing students for success in the increasingly global and technologically challenging jobs of the future. These grants are designed specifically to reimburse charter schools for renting or leasing facilities in low-income areas so that more educational options are available to students in those communities."

In this round of funding, the Charter School Facilities Grant Program provides reimbursement of facility rent and lease expenses incurred in the 2006-07 fiscal year. Because of the current state budget crisis, funding for this program next year may be cut by $2 million.

"Charter schools, like all public schools, must be accessible to all students, no matter what their socioeconomic background," added O'Connell. "As we head into the May revise, I hope the Governor will see the value of this important program and restore full funding so we can support quality charter schools in some of our most impoverished  communities."

The Charter School Facility Grant Program was originally enacted in 2002 to reimburse charter schools for rental and lease costs in low-income areas. This program is targeted toward schools and communities with high proportions of economically disadvantaged students. Eligible applicants must have at least 70 percent of students enrolled at the charter school who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals or the charter school must be physically located in an elementary school attendance area where at least 70 percent of students enrolled are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The charter school must also give a preference in admissions to students who reside in the elementary school attendance area. The charter schools are reimbursed $750 per unit of classroom-based average daily attendance, up to 75 percent of the 2006-07 annual facilities rent and lease costs for the school.

For more information on this program, please visit Past Funding Profile (ID 1210): Charter Schools Facilities.