Last week, Congress passed a 2022 appropriations bill that maintains $440 million in funding for the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP). Fortunately, the final bill did not include language threatening federal funding for charter schools that contract with for-profit entities. An earlier version, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this summer, included the concerning language.
Statement from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
National charter advocates are celebrating the bill’s passage. But they’re also urging more funding to meet charter demand nationwide. In a statement, Nina Rees, CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, said:
The FY 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill provides level funding for the Charter Schools Program (CSP) at $440 million for the fourth year in a row. While we are pleased funding was not cut for these unique public schools, we are concerned that the continued level funding does not appropriately respond to the current demand for high-quality charter schools … We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to increase CSP funding for FY 2023 to better meet the needs of students and families who want more high-quality options in public education.
Read a summary of the legislation from the Penn Hill Group.
