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NC GROW Charter Schools Program
The North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools (NCAPCS) is excited to announce it was awarded $52,995,683 in funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Expanding Opportunities Through Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to State Entities. This is a competitive grant program that enables State entities, including charter support organizations, 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.
“Charter schools expand opportunities for students and families, “ said Rhonda Dillingham, NCAPCS Executive Director. “We designed a strong grant proposal to increase student seats in high-quality public charter schools across North Carolina. We are excited about the impact this will have on the future of education in our state as we partner with stakeholders and communities.”
This grant will fund NC Growing Results-Oriented Wins with Charter Schools (NC GROW Charter Schools) Program from 2025 - 2030, which will be led by NCAPCS. Through the NC Grow Charter Schools, NCAPCS plans to:
- Support the expansion of public charter schools, prioritizing innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE), STEM, or AI charter models.
- Deliver targeted technical assistance to help subgrantees strengthen their financial management.
- Provide comprehensive charter school board governance training in North Carolina.
Applications Now Open
Applications are now available for the 2026 cycle of subgrants. Full Applications are due by May 21, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Before applying, please review the NC GROW CSP Subgrant Application Guidance Document carefully. To apply visit the NC GROW CSP Subgrant Application portal linked below.
NC GROW CSP Subgrant Application Portal (external site)
NC GROW CSP Subgrant Application Guidance Document
NC GROW CSP Allowable Cost Guide
NC GROW CSP Information Session Slide Deck
During the application process the NC GROW CSP Team will be hosting virtual office hours. Whether you’re refining your program design, working through budget questions, or just want to make sure you’re on the right track, this is a space to get real-time guidance from our team. Join by Zoom on:
Thursday, May 14, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Application Support
In addition to office hours, please click here for our Technical Assistance Portal.
NC GROW CSP and External Evaluators
The NC GROW Charter Schools Program (CSP), led by the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools (NCAPCS), is a federally funded initiative that expands access to high-quality charter schools across North Carolina. The grant supports planning, implementation, and replication of charter schools, with a strong focus on academic outcomes, governance, financial sustainability, and innovative programming in areas such as CTE, STEM, and AI.
As part of this work, NCAPCS is seeking an independent external evaluator to assess the effectiveness, implementation fidelity, and overall impact of the NC GROW initiative over the life of the grant. This role is critical to ensuring transparency, continuous improvement, and alignment with federal performance measures.
About the RFP Process
The External Evaluator RFP outlines the full scope of work, deliverables, timeline, and budget parameters aligned to the approved grant. Interested applicants will be asked to demonstrate:
- Experience with federal or state grant evaluation, preferably within education or charter school settings
- A clear and rigorous evaluation methodology
- Capacity to collect, analyze, and report both quantitative and qualitative data
- Ability to collaborate with NCAPCS and stakeholders while maintaining independence
Proposals will be reviewed using a structured scoring rubric, and selected applicants may be invited to participate in an interview process.
Key Dates
| RFP Release | April 27, 2026 |
| Proposal Deadline | May 27, 2026 |
| Interviews | Week of June 1, 2026 |
| Award Notification | June 12, 2026 |
| Contract Start | Within 30 days |
We encourage qualified organizations and evaluators to review the full RFP and consider submitting a proposal. This is an opportunity to contribute to a statewide effort to strengthen charter school quality and expand opportunities for students across North Carolina.
Click here for the RFP for Sustainability Consultant Services
Click here for the RFP for Transportation Consultant Services
Questions
Questions regarding any of the RFPs should be directed to:
Vanessa Baker
vanessa@ncpubliccharters.org
NCAPCS looks forward to partnering with organizations that share our commitment to strengthening and supporting high-quality public charter schools throughout North Carolina.