Idaho was awarded $17 million over 5 years from the federal Charter Schools Program to expand quality charter schools in the state. The grant will be administered by Bluum and used to provide subgrants to new, replicating, and expanding charter schools. The goals are to increase charter school seats by 8,200 students, especially in rural areas, support authorizer quality, and disseminate best practices. Eligible schools can receive up to $800,000 per grant to cover start-up costs over 1-2 years.

1. Expanding Opportunities through
Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP)
Idaho’s Communities of Excellence Project

2. O V E R V I E W
The CSP Grants to State Entities program is funded under the
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
It enables sub-grants to:
• Open and prepare for the operation of new, high-quality
public charter schools.
• Replicate and expand high-quality public charter schools.

3. O V E R V I E W
Idaho’s Consortium
• Bluum – project lead and grant recipient.
• J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation – critical nonprofit funding partner.
• Idaho State Board of Education – ultimate state quality control agent.
• Idaho Public Charter School Commission – lead authorizer for new and expanded public charter schools.
• Building Hope – nationally-recognized facilities finance experts.
The Competition
• $400 million in funds with Idaho competing against 15 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam,
Indiana, Michigan, NewYork, Puerto Rico,Colorado, District of Columbia, Iowa, New Hampshire and North
Carolina.
• Eight states won: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Delaware, Michigan, NewYork, North Carolina.
• Idaho received $17,111,111 over 5-years; $8,939,900 in the first two years.

4. O V E R V I E W
Idaho’s Grant Rationale
• Supply of school seats is tight. From July 2016 to July 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Idaho grew faster than any
faster than any other state – “Our schools are overcrowded.”
• Idaho’s charter sector is well established, capable of adding students, and high performing. For over 20 years the number of
years the number of schools and enrollment have steadily grown, on average adding two to three new schools a year.
• Public support and demand for charter schools in Idaho is robust – 73% of Idahoans favor them.
Who Supports Idaho’s CSP Effort
• Governor Butch Otter
• Senate President ProTempore Brent Hill
• House Speaker Scott Bedke
• Senate Education Chair Dean Mortimer
• House Education Chair JulieVanOrden
• RepresentativeWendy Horman
• Idaho State Board of Education Executive Director
Matt Freeman
• Idaho Public Charter School Commission Chairman
Alan Reed
• US Senator Mike Crapo
• Congressman Mike Simpson
• Congressman Raul Labrador
• J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation
Executive Director Roger Quarles
• Idaho Farm Bureau President Bryan Searle
• Building Hope President Joe Bruno
• PublicCharter School Leaders across Idaho
• Business and Philanthropic Leader

5. P E R F O R M A N C E M E A S U R E S
Idaho’s 2018 CSP Grant 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 PCSC in expanding its quality authorizing efforts while
disseminating and supporting best practice for other authorizers
statewide; and
• Evaluate and disseminate widely the successes and lessons of high-quality
charter schools to impact the broader education system.

6. P U T T I N G N E W G R O W T H I N T O H I S T O R I C A L
C O N T E X T
Year # of Schools Enrollment Year # of Schools Enrollment
1998 1 168 2009 31 11,959
1999 2 184 2010 36 14,611
2000 8 915 2011 40 16,048
2001 9 1,083 2012 43 17,808
2002 10 1,478 2013 44 18,782
2003 13 3,058 2014 47 19,367
2004 16 4,767 2015 48 19,700
2005 18 5,975 2016 48 20,340
2006 24 8,003 2017 50 21,351
2007 28 9,543 2018 52 22,000+
2008 30 10,768
Idaho’s Growing Charter School Sector 1998-2018

7. D E F I N I T I O N S
Must be approved by a state-sanctioned charter school authorizer as:
• New Charter School – approved and in 0-year or 1st-year of operations.
• Replication of a High-Quality Charter School – open a new charter school
or campus based upon the educational model of an existing high-quality
charter school.
• Expansion of a High-Quality Charter School – significantly increase
enrollment or add one or more grades to a high-quality charter school.

8. D E F I N I T I O N S
High-quality for schools currently in operation (emphasized by Communities of
Excellence application)
• Evidence of strong academic results, including above state average growth and
proficiency on ISAT.
• No significant issues identified by authorizer in areas of student safety, school
finance, operational management, or statutory/regulatory compliance.
• Success in significantly increasing student achievement, including graduation rates
for all students and for each subgroups defined by ESSA (e.g. economically
disadvantaged, students with disabilities, Hispanic or Latino, and ELL).
• Good standing with authorizer and lenders.
• Evidence of a student waitlist.
• Evidence of strong and stable leadership and governance.

9. D E F I N I T I O N S
High-quality for start-up schools (emphasized by Communities of Excellence
application)
• Evidence of a committed board of trustees that own the charter school process and have the
demonstrated capacity to deliver for children and families.
• Identified quality instructional leader who is either experienced or 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 teaching talent.
• Sustainable business plan.
• Well-conceived facility plan.
• Evidence of market-demand for the school.
• Innovative and effective learning model that meet the needs of disadvantaged and/or rural students.
• Defined and clear transportation plan for students.

10. E L I G I B L E A P P L I C A N T S
• Competitive Grant Process.
• Must have an approved charter petition from a state-sanctioned public
charter school authorizer.
• Bluum will fund only high-quality plans.
• Applicants that submit proposals that are high-quality and meet the
definitions for new, replication or expansion will be considered after a
rigorous peer review process.

11. G R A N T L O G I S T I C S
Idaho’s $17,111,111 Application Distribution
• At least 90 percent must be provided in competitive subgrants to
eligible applicants.
• At least 7 percent must be utilized for state-level technical assistance
activities and program evaluation/research.Three percent of this to
the Idaho Pubic Charter School Commission for technical assistance
and new school supports.
• No more than 3 percent to Bluum for administration.

12. G R A N T L O G I S T I C S
Competitive subgrant competitions in 2019
• In March 2019 there will be up to 6 available subgrants.
• In October 2019 there will be up to 6 available subgrants.
• Grants are available for 0-year and 1st-year or 1st-year and 2nd-year.
• Maximum subgrant of $800,000 to utilize over two-years.
• In October 2020 there will be up to 5 available subgrants.
• In October 2021 there will be up to 2 available subgrants (1 start-up
and 1 expansion).

13. G R A N T L O G I S T I C S
How the dollars will be distributed to subgrantees
Type
Average
Students Spring 2019 Autumn 2019 Autumn 2020 Autumn 2021 Autumn 2022 Total
Expansion 430 525,000$ 275,000$ 800,000$
Replication 430 525,000$ 275,000$ 800,000$
Replication 430 525,000$ 275,000$ 800,000$
Startup 430 525,000$ 275,000$ 800,000$
Startup 430 525,000$ 275,000$ 800,000$
Startup 430 525,000$ 275,000$ 800,000$
Expansion 430 555,000$ 245,000$ 800,000$
Expansion 430 555,000$ 245,000$ 800,000$
Replication 430 555,000$ 245,000$ 800,000$
Replication 430 555,000$ 245,000$ 800,000$
Startup 430 555,000$ 245,000$ 800,000$
Startup 430 555,000$ 245,000$ 800,000$
Expansion 430 564,000$ 236,000$ 800,000$
Replication 430 564,000$ 236,000$ 800,000$
Startup 430 564,000$ 236,000$ 800,000$
Startup 430 564,000$ 236,000$ 800,000$
Startup 430 564,000$ 236,000$ 800,000$
Expansion 445 620,000$ 280,000$ 900,000$
Startup 445 620,000$ 280,000$ 900,000$
Grand totals: 8200 3,150,000$ 4,980,000$ 4,290,000$ 2,420,000$ 560,000$ 15,400,000$
BLUUM SUB-AWARDS TO SCHOOLS
Year2Competition
Year3
Competition
year4
Comp
Year1Competition

14. G R A N T L O G I S T I C S
Subgrant allowable activities
(a) Preparing teachers, school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel, including
through paying costs associated with –
(i) Providing professional development; and (ii) Hiring and compensating, during the eligible
applicant’s planning period specified in the application for funds, one or more of the
following: (A)Teachers. (B) School Leaders. (C) Specialized instructional support personnel.
(b) Acquiring supplies, training, equipment (including technology), and educational materials
(including developing and acquiring instructional materials).
(c) Carrying out necessary renovations to ensure that a new school building complies with
applicable statutes and regulations, and minor facilities repairs (excluding construction).
(d) Providing one-time startup costs associated with providing transportation to students to and
from the charter school.
(e) Carrying out community engagement activities, which may include paying the cost of student
and staff recruitment.
(f) Providing for other appropriate, non-sustained costs related to opening, replicating, or
expanding high-quality charter schools when such costs cannot be met from other sources.

15. G R A N T L O G I S T I C S
Restrictions
• No construction; funding cannot be used to build buildings.
• Our application is a “contract” with the USDOE. Bluum will be held
accountable for what is written in the grant.
• Funding cannot be redirected for other uses (e.g. traditional public
schools that are not charters).

16. T E C H N I C A L A S S I S T A N C E
Seven percent of total funding must be utilized for state level
activities. Bluum’s plan includes:
• Capacity building for new schools, educators and community
members.
• Support for Idaho Public Charter School Commission and other
authorizers.
• Develop innovative practices and instructional models to share across
schools settings (e.g. International Baccalaureate, STEM, Career
Technical).
• Focus groups with stakeholders and town hall style meetings for
sharing findings.
• Research study to evaluate impact of charter schools on student
achievement.
• Technical assistance workshops with state and national experts.

17. T I M E L I N E ( T E N T A T I V E )
Date Federal CSP Sub Grant Activity
Monday, November 12, 2018 Call for Reviewers
Monday, November 19, 2018 Close Call for Reviewers
Friday, November 30, 2018 Finalize Reviewers
Monday, January 7, 2018 Peer Review Training, start of Peer Review Process
Friday, March 4, 2019 Communications Blitz
Friday, March 15, 2019 Open RFA 1st Competition (pending approval of US DoE)
Thursday, March 14, 2019 Charter School Training (statewide - online), introductory technical assistance webinar
Friday, March 15, 2019 Charter School Training (Boise - in person)
Monday, March 18, 2019 Charter School Training (Idaho Falls - in person)
Monday, March 18, 2019 Charter School Training (Twin Falls - in person)
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 Charter School Training (Coeur d'Alene - in person)
Friday, March 22, 2019 Charter School Training (statewide - online), introductory technical assistance webinar
Friday, April 12, 2019 RFP Close
Friday, April 26, 2019 Reviews Finalized
Friday, May 3, 2019 Management Review Completed
Friday, May 10, 2019 Notice of Awards
Monday, May 13, 2019 Schedule Individual Completeness Check with Budget Training (2 hours, online)
Monday, May 20, 2019 Post Award Webinar/Email Guide to New Sub Recipients
Friday, May 31, 2019 $ Begins to be Disbursed to Sub Recipients
Monday, September 30, 2019 Y1 Funds Commitment Date
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 Repeat Cycle with 2nd Competition

18. U N I T E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F E D U C A T I O N
Program Officers
Ashley Gardner,
Leslie Hankerson,
Amy Huber,
Kathryn Meeley
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave. SW, 4W220
Washington, DC 20202
(202) 401-1366
(800) USA-LEARN
1010 W Jefferson St Suite 201 Boise, ID 83702
bluum.org/idaho-csp-grant
grants@bluum.org
• Awarded $77.8 million to eight State Entities
• Support for 300 new, replicating, and expanding public charter schools
• State entity programs provide $ through charter subgrant competitions
Expanding Opportunities Through Quality Charter Schools
Program (CSP) Grants to State Entities
FY2018 Awards Page Link

19. Federal CSP Program Description
The CSP State Entities program is newly authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA),
as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (20 U.S.C. 7221-7221j). Prior to enactment of the ESSA, the ESEA,
as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), authorized the Secretary to make awards to State
educational agencies to enable them to conduct charter school subgrant programs in their States. The CSP State Entities
program is under new law and has different eligibility requirements, priorities, definitions, application requirements, and
selection criteria.
The major purposes of the CSP are to expand opportunities for all students, particularly traditionally underserved
students, to attend charter schools and meet challenging State academic standards; provide financial assistance for the
planning, program design, and initial implementation of public charter schools; increase the number of high-quality
charter schools available to students across the United States; evaluate the impact of charter schools on student
achievement, families, and communities; share best practices between charter schools and other public schools;
encourage States to provide facilities support to charter schools; and support efforts to strengthen the charter school
authorizing process.
The CSP grants to State Entities (CFDA number 84.282A) is a competitive grant program that enables State entities to
award subgrants to eligible applicants in their State to open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools and to
replicate and expand high-quality charter schools. Grant funds may also be used by the State entity to provide technical
assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in opening and preparing for the operation of
new charter schools, or replicating or expanding high-quality charter schools; and to work with authorized public
chartering agencies to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal oversight
and auditing of charter schools.

20. I D A H O S T A T E B O A R D O F E D U C A T I O N
Contact Information:
Idaho State Board of Education
650West State Street, 3rd Floor
Boise, ID 83702
P: 208-334-2270
board@osbe.idaho.gov
• Executive Director, Matt Freeman
1010 W Jefferson St Suite 201 Boise, ID 83702
bluum.org/idaho-csp-grant
grants@bluum.org

21. I D A H O P U B L I C C H A R T E R S C H O O L C O M M I S S I O N
Contact Information:
Idaho Public Charter School Commission
304 North 8th St., Suite 242
Boise, ID 83702
P: 208-332-1561
pcsc@osbe.idaho.gov
• PCSC Director, Tamara Baysinger 208-332-1583 Tamara.Baysinger@osbe.idaho.gov
• Senior Accountability Program Manager 208-332-1585 Kirsten.Pochop@osbe.idaho.gov
• Finance & Resource Program Manager 208-332-1594 Jenn.Thompson@osbe.idaho.gov
1010 W Jefferson St Suite 201 Boise, ID 83702
bluum.org/idaho-csp-grant
grants@bluum.org

22. I D A H O S T A T E D E P A R T M E N T O F E D U C A T I O N
Contact Information:
Idaho State Department of Education
650 West State Street
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 332-6800
info@sde.idaho.gov
• School Choice Coordinator, Michelle Clement Taylor
1010 W Jefferson St Suite 201 Boise, ID 83702
bluum.org/idaho-csp-grant
grants@bluum.org
(208) 332-6963
mtaylor@sde.idaho.gov Registration form to
sign up

23. I D A H O S T A T E D E P A R T M E N T O F E D U C A T I O N
Assessment & Accountability
Timely SDE webinars concerning important deadlines & updates or changes.
Links open for reservations:
January 9
February 13
March 13
April 10
May 8
June 12
For previous webinars, please visit the Resource Center for Assessment and Accountability
1010 W Jefferson St Suite 201 Boise, ID 83702
bluum.org/idaho-csp-grant
grants@bluum.org
Karlynn Laraway, Director of Assessment & Accountability
klaraway@sde.idaho.gov (208) 332-6976.

24. I D A H O S T A T E D E P A R T M E N T O F E D U C A T I O N
Assessment & Accountability (continued)
1010 W Jefferson St Suite 201 Boise, ID 83702
bluum.org/idaho-csp-grant
grants@bluum.org
Karlynn Laraway, Director of Assessment & Accountability
klaraway@sde.idaho.gov (208) 332-6976.
 Information about the Idaho’s accountability system can be found on the SDE website.
• ESSA aligned ‘indicator summaries’
• Data used in the identification system
 Initial state/district and school report cards posted later this month (December 2018).
 Information about school improvement activities can be found here.

25. I D A H O S T A T E D E P A R T M E N T O F E D U C A T I O N
Assessment & Accountability (continued)
1010 W Jefferson St Suite 201 Boise, ID 83702
bluum.org/idaho-csp-grant
grants@bluum.org
Karlynn Laraway, Director of Assessment & Accountability
klaraway@sde.idaho.gov (208) 332-6976.
Save the date for the upcoming Assessment & Accountability Roadshow
· January 31 - Regions 3 & 4 - Nampa Civic Center.
· February 5 - Regions 1 & 2 - Coeur d'Alene Resort.
· February 8 - Regions 5 & 6 - Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Event Center.
The State Department of Education’s Assessment and Accountability Team is excited
to provide you with a wide range of information, covering a variety of topics
on the Idaho’s Comprehensive Assessment Program.
Breakout sessions will include: ISAT Interim Assessments, Digital Library,
changes coming to the Science Assessment, supports and accommodations,
Alternate Assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities, College
Entrance Exams (SAT), WIDA ACCESS 2.0 and updates on Accountability.
Links to register in the December 19 newsletter.

26. C O N T A C T I N F O
For more information, questions, or technical assistance:
US DoE Office of Innovation & Improvement CSP
https://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/charter-schools/state-entities/
Bluum’s Communities of Excellence Program
https://www.bluum.org/idaho-csp-grant/
Program Director:Terry Ryan tryan@bluum.org
Chief FinanceOfficer: Marc Carignan mcarignan@bluum.org
Grant Financial Auditor: Kurt Kargou financecsp@bluum.org
Director of FederalGrants & Support: Amy Felton grantscsp@bluum.org