Federal Grant to Boost Arizona Charter Schools
PHOENIX – Arizona’s educational landscape is set for a significant transformation following a substantial $34.8 million federal grant aimed at enhancing charter schools across the state. The initiative is designed to support educationally disadvantaged students, providing them with greater access to high-quality education.
State schools chief Tom Horne expressed his satisfaction with the development, stating, “I am extremely pleased that we have received this federal grant that will create 24 new high-quality charter schools and help another 23 existing schools with models and practices that result in academic growth. I want to commend the department staff who competed for this funding. Their work has resulted in the state receiving the largest recipient of this grant, per capita, in the country.”
Arizona’s leadership in school choice, particularly in charter schools, is underscored by this grant. Horne highlighted the importance of the funding, noting, “These dollars will serve a vital purpose in making sure that an estimated 10,000 students in traditionally underserved areas will have a chance to select a high-quality charter school. Every student in every part of our state, urban or rural, rich or poor, deserves this opportunity and I am very pleased to be a part of this effort.”
The project is already underway, targeting an increase in top-tier charter schools focusing on students who face educational disadvantages. This group includes economically disadvantaged individuals, students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and other specific demographic groups.
The overarching goals of the grant include narrowing the achievement gaps in academic performance, offering technical assistance to educators for enhancing teaching methodologies, and promoting dual or concurrent enrollment in college-level courses. The program aims for students to achieve at least one year of academic growth in state assessments for math, reading, and language arts, with a broader goal of demonstrating cumulative three-year growth.
This funding initiative is set to continue through September 2029, providing a long-term investment in Arizona’s educational future.
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