U.S. Education Department Increases Charter School Funding to $500 Million, Launches New Grants

The U.S. Department of Education, under Secretary Linda McMahon, has announced a $60 million increase to the Charter Schools Program (CSP), raising its total budget to $500 million for fiscal year 2025. This funding boost includes the introduction of a new Model Development and Dissemination Grant Program aimed at showcasing innovative strategies from charter schools, with a focus on classical education, civics, STEM, and career-oriented education. The Department also opened applications for five additional grant competitions supporting various charter school initiatives. The Trump administration emphasizes this investment as part of its broader effort to expand educational choice and improve outcomes for students through competition and innovation. However, critics, including the Network for Public Education, argue that the increased funding overlooks significant issues within the charter sector, such as high closure rates and wasteful spending. Despite these concerns, proponents like Rep. Burgess Owens celebrate the expansion of school choice as a way to provide tailored educational opportunities to more students nationwide.