Federal Funds Boost NC Charter School Expansion
The North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools (NCAPCS) has secured a federal grant totaling nearly $53 million through the U.S. Department of Education's Charter Schools Program (CSP).
This funding is specifically directed toward North Carolina charter schools and is intended to span five years (2025-2030). The bulk of the funds are earmarked for subgrants to at least 42 charter schools that are seeking to open new schools or expand existing capacity. Priority for the subgrants will be given to schools that focus on in-demand academic areas such as:
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
A key benefit of this federal award is that charter schools can use the grant money for building and facility needs, a funding area that state and local governments in North Carolina do not typically cover for charter schools.
Proposed Federal Budget Cuts Threaten NC Public School Districts in 2026
The influx of funding for charter schools occurs alongside federal budgetary proposals that could dramatically cut funding for traditional public school districts in North Carolina.
The Trump administration's proposed budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 outlines approximately $12 billion in cuts to public education nationwide. This includes proposals to:
Eliminate or cut funding for several distinct K-12 programs that support vulnerable students, such as those for migrant students, English learners (Title III-A), and teacher professional development (Title II-A).
Consolidate 18 separate programs into a "K-12 Simplified Funding Program" block grant, with an overall funding reduction of about 70% for those consolidated programs. Programs at risk of major cuts or elimination include those that fund afterschool and summer programs (21st Century Community Learning Centers) and student support and academic enrichment.
While Congress must still debate and approve the final FY 2026 budget, the proposed cuts would directly impact North Carolina school districts. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Education briefly froze over $165 million in expected federal funds for NC public schools, highlighting the programs that are now under review for future cuts. This continued pressure on federal public school funding is a major concern for the state's education leaders as they plan for the 2026 school year.
WNCTimes
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