RALEIGH — A public charter school organization in North Carolina will be receiving a portion of the $500 million in charter school program grants announced earlier this month by the U.S. Department of Education.
“A one-size fits all education system is not working for our students. Charter schools allow for innovative educational models that expand learning opportunities for students,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in the announcement of the grants.
Of the new funding, the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools (NCAPCS) will receive nearly $53 million over the next five years. NCAPCS is one of six recipients under the state entities category that will receive a portion of the $500 million.
“Charter schools expand opportunities for students and families,” NCAPCS Executive Director Rhonda Dillingham said in a press release. “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.”
According to Dillingham’s release, the money will fund the NCAPCS-led NC Growing Results-Oriented Wins with Charter Schools Program from 2025-30. The funds will support charter school expansion with a focus on career and technical education, STEM and AI charter models.
Awards were made under each of the department’s charter school programs: state entity, charter school management organization, developer, state facilities, credit enhancement, and model dissemination and development grants.
“The Trump Administration will continue to use every available tool to advocate for meaningful learning, advance school choice, and ensure every student is well-positioned to succeed,” said McMahon.
Additional $51.7 million in supplemental funding was also awarded to existing state entity grantees related to increased demand for charter schools.
NCAPCS, a nonprofit, is a partner organization of the National Association of Public Charter Schools, a national nonprofit aimed at advancing charter schools.
“Families are speaking loud and clear: they want more public school options with student-centered learning that prepares children with real-world skills for life success,” said Starlee Coleman, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. “This year’s increase in applicants proves that educators are ready to deliver. With continued investment and flexibility, the CSP can meet rising parent demand and launch the next generation of great public schools.”
In addition to NCAPCS, Movement School Northwest was awarded $961,695 this year as a charter school management organization for the “Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools” grant.
Movement School is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that operates a free public charter school network with five schools in North Carolina, including Northwest Elementary, as well as one school each in Georgia and South Carolina.
In North Carolina, Movement School Northwest (northwest Charlotte) opened in August 2023 as a K-5 school. The school began with students in kindergarten and first grade and is adding grades each year up to fifth grade.
Other grants with North Carolina ties awarded this year include a five-year, $8.3 million award in April to Triad Math and Science Academy (TMSA) Public Charter Schools.
TMSA’s schools focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics), and the organization is seeking to bring 3,740 new seats across Wake, Guilford, Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties. TMSA currently has seven campuses serving more than 5,200 K-12 students, including 1,000 students at TMSA Triangle High School, its newest school in Apex that opened in 2024.
