1. Purpose. The purpose of grant opportunities offered by the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC) is to support academic, governance, and operational compliance and excellence at state charter schools. The specific purpose of a grant opportunity must relate to one or more of the following:
    1. To provide financial support to schools facing unforeseen emergency circumstances, including, but not limited to, natural disaster, acts of terror or war, pandemic, or other exceptional events precipitated by external events causing financial hardship;
    2. To provide financial support to schools to implement programs or systems intended to increase academic outcomes for students;
    3. To provide financial support to schools for governance consulting, coaching, and training that supplements governance training required by O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2084(f);
    4. To provide financial support to new, replicating, and expanding schools for consulting and related services to secure an appropriate facility, complete facility improvements, and/or identify financing opportunities;
    5. To provide financial support to schools that have surrendered their charter contract or whose charter contract has been terminated by the SCSC Board of Commissioners to continue operations, services for students, or other essential services as identified by the SCSC staff or Board of Commissioners through the end of a school year or other time period determined by the SCSC to minimize harm to students;
    6. To provide financial support to schools to implement programs or systems designed to improve student and/or faculty and staff health and safety and/or faculty and staff retention; or
    7. To reimburse or provide financial support to schools for other purposes identified by the SCSC Board of Commissioners to meet goals of the SCSC strategic plan or address school needs.
  2. Terms and Conditions. The SCSC Board of Commissioners shall approve the terms and conditions applicable to all grant opportunities. The SCSC Executive Director may, consistent with such terms and conditions and subject to SCSC strategic priorities, school needs, and fund availability, make grant opportunities available to state charter schools by posting on the SCSC's website a description and application specifying the grant's purpose, term, and allowable uses of funds.
  3. Eligible Recipients. Eligibility shall be determined based on the specific grant opportunity as described in the description and application.
  4. Criteria for Award. Applications shall be reviewed based on the criteria established for the grant opportunity and published in the grant application. Grant awards shall be recommended by SCSC staff through an application and scoring process and approved by the Board of Commissioners.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-2083; 2091