Communities of Excellence

Leading the Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools

COMMUNITIES OF EXCELLENCE

A consortium of partners has come together around Idaho’s Communities of Excellence federal CSP program to lead the expansion of high-quality charter schools across our state. Bluum, a Boise-based statewide nonprofit charter school support entity, is project lead. Bluum is organized to seek out, vet and support innovative leaders and high-performing school models. Bluum is joined by Idaho’s primary charter school authorizer, the Idaho Public Charter School Commission. The Idaho State Board of Education and the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation are long-time leaders in Idaho education and school improvement efforts. Both are key members in Idaho’s consortium. The nationally-renowned non-profit charter school facilities finance group Building Hope is the fifth member of Idaho’s consortium.

Notification of Closeout Letter

Official notification of closeout for the Communities of Excellence Federal Charter School Program Grant.

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2022 CSP Survey - Parent Responses

2022 survey results conducted among parents whose children attended CSP grant charter schools for the 2021-22 school year.

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2022 CSP Survey - Teacher Responses

2022 survey results conducted among classroom teachers working in CSP grant charter schools.

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Grant Playbook
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Technical Assistance & Events
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Public Charter School Basics
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10 Things to Know

About Idaho’s Communities of Excellence Program

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Clearing the Air

An Analysis of the Federal Charter Schools Program

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Apply for a Federal Charter School Start-Up Grant

Overview

Idaho’s Communities of Excellence Federal CSP Program represents $22 million in funds available to help Idaho expand opportunities for students to attend excellent public charter schools that meet and exceed state academic standards. Idaho’s Communities of Excellence project has three objectives:

  • Increase the number of quality charter school seats by 8,200 students, especially for our most educationally disadvantaged and rural students, through start-up, replication and expansion
  • Support the Idaho Public Charter School Commission in expanding its quality authorizing efforts while disseminating and supporting best practices for other authorizers statewide
  • Evaluate and disseminate widely the successes and lessons of highly-quality charter schools to impact the broader education system.

A total of 19 sub-grantee schools were funded under the terms of this grant:

– In March 2019, five schools were awarded subgrants for $800,000 each
– In September 2019, six schools were awarded subgrants ranging from $133,224.00 to $1,250,000.00
– In April 2020, two schools were awarded subgrants for $800,000 each
– In December 2020, two schools were awarded subgrants for $800,000 each
– In May 2021, seven schools were awarded subgrants ranging from $376,085.00 to $800,000.00
– In June 2022, two schools were awarded subgrants ranging from $222,396.00 to $837,500.00
– In February 2023, four schools were awarded subgrants ranging from $229,428.00 to $800,228.88

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must have an approved charter school petition from an Idaho authorizer in order to apply for Federal CSP dollars under this program. Additionally, schools must meet the federal requirements. Grant applicants must conform to the federal definition of a public charter school in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to be eligible for grant funds under the CSP.

For those approved by an Idaho authorizer, the Communities of Excellence rigorous RFP application and Peer Review process for selecting exemplary applicants for CSP funding will constitute an important first step. The RFP seeks to identify quality eligible applicants that have the capacity to meet the program objective of serving more students, especially disadvantaged and rural students. In order to demonstrate its ability to create a high-quality charter school, the eligible applicant will submit its approved charter petition and any supplemental information necessary to demonstrate completion of the requirements outlined in Bluum’s application process.

The work to grow Idaho’s charter school sector builds on lessons learned from across the country and from Idaho’s 20 years of charter school experience. The seven lessons that we will apply to the design of the Communities of Excellence project include: Idaho Independent Peer Review Panel will  assess applications based on the following criteria:

  • A committed board of trustees that own the charter school process, demonstrate responsibility for the school’s success or failure, and understand their roles and responsibilities vis-à-vis that of the school management.
  • Quality instructional leader(s) who are either experienced and proven in running a high-performing school and/or has received first-class charter specific training.
  • Demonstrated ability to attract, recruit, retain, and develop top talent.
  • Sustainable business plan that includes appropriate start-up dollars and support.
  • Market Demand and demonstrable need for the school in the selected community.  
  • Innovative and effective learning model(s) that will meet the needs of educationally disadvantaged and/or rural students.
  • Well conceived facility plan. 
    These seven lessons are the components – along with federal requirements for reporting, accounting, and serving students with special needs – that Bluum will ask eligible sub grantees to describe, demonstrate, and commit to in their applications for CSP sub grants.
Petition and Authorizing Information

Public charter schools in Idaho may be authorized by their local school district, the Idaho Public Charter School Commission, or public colleges and universities.
Idaho State Statute 33-5205: Petition to Establish Public Charter School
Tools & Resources from the Idaho Public Charter School Commission
Tools & Resources from the Idaho State Department of Education

Peer Review Panel

To ensure sub grants are awarded to the most capable applicants, each proposal for a CSP sub grant will be reviewed by an external Peer Review panel. The Idaho Independent Peer Review Panel will be comprised of teams of three reviewers, selected through an application process. These reviewers will receive training on the effective use of a Peer Review Rubric to rate potential sub grant proposals. Individuals selected as peer reviewers must be well informed regarding education, education policy, evaluation, and operations of public charter schools.

If you are interested in becoming a peer reviewer, please email grantscsp@bluum.org

Awarded Applicants

Awarded applicants were evaluated on a number of criteria, including instructional leadership, governance, the ability to attract and retain talent, sustainable financial practices, demonstrable market demand, and an innovative and effective educational model.

Learn more about previously Awarded Applicants