KIPP Public Charter Schools and the California Department of Education have received federal grants together worth nearly $100 million to expand and start more public charter schools.
The California Department of Education won $49.9 million to run a grant competition for charter school operators, to support nearly 500 new and expanded public charter schools.
A consortium of the KIPP Foundation and the KIPP California Region won nearly $48.8 million over three years.
Among schools benefiting from the award are four growing KIPP Bay Area schools: KIPP Heritage Academy and KIPP Prize Preparatory Academy in San Jose, KIPP Excelencia Community Prep in Redwood City and KIPP Bridge Academy in Oakland. Each of the schools may receive up to $500,000 over the three-year grant period for expansion.
The federal Charter Schools Program provides start-up funds for new public charter schools, and is intended to strengthen accountability and performance and to enable schools to share successful practices.
KIPP runs 200 schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia serving nearly 80,000 students, mostly low-income African-American and Latino children.
