Charter School Funding Types - Charter Schools (CA Dept of Education) (2024)

Table of Contents
Directly Funded Locally Funded FAQs

Information regarding charter school funding types.

A charter school may be either directly or locally funded. The decision on whether to be funded directly or locally generally impacts the method of allocating funds as well as the receipt of those funds. The selection also affects how a charter school applies for funding, including but not limited to, other state funds, federal funds, grants, and consolidated applications.

A charter school should report its funding type of the California Department of Education (CDE) prior to the start of a new fiscal year via the Charter School Annual Information Update. Due to the impact that funding type selection has on many programs, the funding type selected may not be changed during the fiscal year; however, this designation may be reconsidered on an annual basis. Given its various implications, the CDE encourages a charter school wanting to change its funding type to first discuss the change with its authorizing local educational agency (LEA).

Directly Funded

A charter school may elect to receive its funding directly, in lieu of having it disbursed to the LEA that granted its charter; Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) apportionment funds for a directly funded charter school flow directly to the county treasurer and then to the charter school. An election to receive funding directly shall apply to all funding that the charter school is to receive.

On or before June 1 of each year, a charter school electing funding in this manner shall so notify the county superintendent of schools of the county in which the LEA that granted the charter is located or, in the case of charter schools for which the State Board of Education has designated an the chartering authority pursuant to California Education Code Section 47605(k)(2)(E), the county superintendent of schools of the county in which the designated chartering authority is located.

Locally Funded

LCFF apportionment funds are calculated separately for a locally funded charter school. Funds flow through its authorizing LEA rather than being disbursed from the county treasurer to the charter school.

Return to Fiscal Support/Nonclassroom-Based Funding

Questions: Charter Schools Division | charters@cde.ca.gov | 916-322-6029

Last Reviewed: Monday, March 06, 2023

Recently Posted in Charter Schools


Charter School Funding Types - Charter Schools (CA Dept of Education) (2024)

FAQs

Charter School Funding Types - Charter Schools (CA Dept of Education)? ›

How are charter schools funded? Charter schools can be "locally funded," meaning that they receive their funding through their authorizing district or county office, or "direct-funded," in which case they receive funding directly from the state.

How are CA charter schools funded? ›

In California, charter schools are funded through state aid and local funds, which have evolved to adapt to changing educational needs.

What will be different about how the charter school is funded? ›

Charter schools receive most of their funding from states, although the federal government does offer some grant funding. In California, like other public schools, charter schools receive state and local tax dollars based on the number of pupils in attendance in each grade level.

What is Prop 39 for charter schools in California? ›

39”) is a state law passed by California voters in 2000, which requires school districts to make facilities (including both classroom and non-classroom spaces) available to public charter schools serving students who reside in the district.

How do charter schools work in California? ›

A charter school is a public school that may provide instruction in any combination of grades (kindergarten through grade twelve). Parents, teachers, or community members may initiate a charter petition, which is typically presented to and approved by a local school district governing board.

Who regulates charter schools in California? ›

Who regulates charter schools in California? While charter schools can be initiated by parents, teachers, or community members, they are approved by local school boards, county boards of education, and the state board of education. So charter schools still have to conform to state educational standards and regulations.

What is a directly funded charter school? ›

A charter school may elect to receive its funding directly, in lieu of having it disbursed to the LEA that granted its charter; Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) apportionment funds for a directly funded charter school flow directly to the county treasurer and then to the charter school.

What are the disadvantages of charter schools? ›

While public schools serve the local community by accepting all local students who enroll, charter schools are selective and only serve a small segment of students. They also tend to be more racially segregated than traditional public schools and often fail to serve students with special needs.

What is the difference between a charter school and a public school in California? ›

Charter Schools are Public Schools

As part of California's public school system, charter schools are free and open to all students. Charter schools never charge tuition, do not earn profits, and do not have special entrance requirements.

What does directly funded mean? ›

Direct funding is funding that is provided to an organization directly by a governmental entity or intermediate organization that has the same duties as a government entity.

What is the prop 58 in California education? ›

This measure repeals key provisions of Proposition 227 and adds a few new provisions regarding English language instruction, as described below. Removes Restrictions to Bilingual Programs. Under this proposal, schools would no longer be required to teach English learners in English-only programs.

What is Prop 98 California schools? ›

Prop. 98 is a constitutional amendment adopted by California voters in 1988 that establishes an annual minimum funding level for K-14 education each fiscal year — the Prop. 98 guarantee. Prop.

What is the cap on charter schools in California? ›

California law caps the number of charter schools statewide at 1,750. The cap is increased by 100 schools each year. The law allows multiple types of charter school authorizers, including local school boards, county boards of education, and the State Board of Education.

How much does a charter school principal make in California? ›

As of Apr 30, 2024, the average annual pay for a Charter School Principal in California is $105,335 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $50.64 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,025/week or $8,777/month.

Do charter schools cost money in California? ›

The great news is that charter schools in California are open to all students and are tuition-free. The state provides funding for them to operate, similar to how it supports other public schools. This means families do not have to pay anything for their children to attend.

Why are charter schools controversial? ›

The most common arguments about charter schools are that: Charters steal kids and money from traditional public ISDs. Charters are selective and operate like private schools. Public charter schools don't enroll students from historically underserved families.

Who funds charter schools in the US? ›

They are funded with public tax dollars, though they also fundraise independently. Charter schools are subject to fewer rules than traditional state schools in exchange for greater accountability.

How to start a charter school in California? ›

How to Start a Charter School in California: A Step-by-Step Guide
  1. Step 1: Understanding Charter Schools in California. ...
  2. Step 2: Research and Planning. ...
  3. Step 3: Develop a Comprehensive Charter Petition. ...
  4. Step 4: Identify an Authorizing Entity. ...
  5. Step 5: Submission and Approval. ...
  6. Step 6: Establishing the Charter School. ...
  7. Conclusion.

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