Three Connecticut public charter schools will receive a combined $1.74 million in federal grant funding through the Great Schools for Connecticut Project (GSCT) to support the expansion of seats at their schools beginning in the 2024-25 school year.
On Friday, September 6, 2024, GSCT, operated by the Connecticut Charter Schools Association (CTCSA), awarded subgrants to Odyssey Community School in Manchester, New Beginnings Family Academy in Bridgeport, and the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication in New London. These funds were awarded through GSCT’s competitive grant process utilizing federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant funding, intended to support the opening, expansion, and replication of high-quality public charter schools.
All three schools earned approval of their seat expansions from the General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session. This grant funding will supplement costs associated with adding new seats, including everything from classroom materials to professional development for faculty members, all of which (100%) is funded by federal CSP dollars.
Odyssey awarded $150,000 to support addition of new preschool classrooms
After beginning early learning for three and four year-olds with the creation of two preschool classrooms in Fall 2022, Odyssey Community School in Manchester added two additional preschool classrooms in Fall 2024. Their goal was to provide more meaningful early learning opportunities for their families and establish a cohort of 36-38 preschool children per grade level. Legislative approval of Odyssey’s new seats cleared the way for them to apply for, and be awarded, CSP funding through GSCT.
“We are overjoyed with this award and grateful for the advocacy and support of the Connecticut Charter Schools Association as we sought the seat and funding approval process last spring,” said Dr. Phillip O’Reilly, Executive Director at Odyssey Community School, “and for the technical assistance in seeking this much-needed financial support through this federally funded grant opportunity.”
The $150,000 grant will help the school fund professional learning, purchase classroom materials, and obtain playground equipment to serve their new preschoolers this Fall.
ISAAC awarded $736,214 to support creation of 4th and 5th-grade classrooms
Previously serving grades 6-8, the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication in New London earned approval to expand their school community and create two 4th-grade classrooms in 2024-25 and two 5th-grade classrooms in 2025-26. Their grant award of more than $730,000 will support the school in adding their two new grade levels, allowing them to provide their innovative curriculum earlier in the students’ educational journey and help those students to be better prepared for the rigorous curriculum in the 6th-8th grade levels.
“As we add grades 4 and 5 to ISAAC, the awarding of the CSP Grant is a game changer,” said ISAAC’s Executive Director, Dr. Nicholas Spera. “This grant will provide transportation for all 4th and 5th students attending ISAAC. In addition, with the unique coffee-house-style classrooms that ISAAC will have in all of its 4th and 5th grade classes, the CSP Grant will provide the funds to furnish these learning environments with the highest-quality furniture and latest technology to promote learning and collaboration in a fun and motivating environment.”
NBFA awarded $855,176 to support opening of Early Learning Center
Serving preschool through 6th-grade students in Bridgeport, New Beginnings Family Academy will open a new Early Learning Center in 2025. Their plan for growth will be supported by more than $850,000 in CSP grant funding, allowing them to add four new classrooms for their pre-K students.
"New Beginnings Family Academy is thrilled to have received the Great Schools for CT CSP grant award that will help launch the opening of our new Early Learning Center next year,” says Ronelle P. Swagerty, District Director and CEO of NBFA. “This grant will fill a gap in state facilities funding available to charters and help NBFA in the planning and implementation of the play-based center including salaries, professional development, curriculum materials, equipment and other resources to support students.”
In the years ahead, the Great Schools for Connecticut Program will continue to offer competitive grant opportunities for those hoping to offer public charter school seats to the communities that need them most. The next grant cycle is expected to begin in late summer of 2025. For more information on the grant program, please visit https://csp.ctcharters.org/home.
100% of Great Schools for Connecticut (GSCT) Charter School Project grants are made using federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) grant funds that were awarded to the Connecticut Charter Schools Association (CTCSA) by the U.S. Department of Education (CFDA #84.282A). GSCT is a competitive public charter school grant program funded under the Congressional Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA, Public Law 114-95), which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.
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