Accessing Technical Assistance

The Charter Support Unit began in Florida in 2011 with the purpose of providing short-term, intensive, and targeted support for start-up and new charter schools. The Florida Department of Education contracted with Building Hope to operate the CSU and provide these services to schools throughout Florida. Building Hope has continued to operate the Support Unit since then. In 2018 the Federal Department of Education awarded Building Hope an additional grant to expand the services of the Charter Support Unit to additional locations throughout the country. The additional expanded CSU is meant to target services with regards to the facilities needs of schools in Texas, New York, Washington DC and rural schools throughout the country.

Civic Builders was established in 2002 to address the immediate need for charter school facilities support. By assuming development responsibilities such as financing, design, and construction, Civic Builders helps new charter schools open and growing charter schools reach more students. Since completing the first school building opening in 2004, Civic Builders has partnered with the best educators to build inspiring schools in underserved neighborhoods such as Harlem, South Bronx, Newark, and more. Civic Builders has worked with small, independent charter schools, as well as large charter networks on projects ranging from renovations to new construction.

Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution (Clearinghouse CDFI) is a full-service, direct lender financing projects that create jobs & services to help people work, live, dream, grow, & thrive in healthy communities. The company was established in 1996 to serve low-income and disadvantaged communities in Southern California. Since then, Clearinghouse CDFI has expanded its service area to address unmet credit needs throughout the U.S. with a focus on CA, NV, AZ, NM, & Indian Country.

The Coalition of Public Independent Charter Schools is a national voice for community-based public charter schools. We celebrate and support innovative, inclusive, and transparent approaches to education.
CPICS connects school leaders and communities by sharing effective practices through advocacy and service.

CEI integrates financing, business and industry expertise, and policy solutions to help grow good jobs, environmentally sustainable enterprises, and shared prosperity in Maine and other rural regions. CEI envisions a world in which communities are economically and environmentally healthy, enabling all people, especially those with low incomes, to reach their full potential.

Providers of capital and TA to support charter school facility development

The Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI) is a statewide charter school authorizer. CSI began its work by authorizing two charter schools in 2005. Through the creation of new charter schools, the transfer of existing charter schools in and out of the portfolio, and the expansion, replication, and closure of existing CSI schools, the CSI portfolio has expanded and contracted over time.

Advocacy, member school services and resources/info

The Connecticut Charter Schools Association is a nonprofit membership organization that serves as a unified voice for the 21 public charter schools, representing their interests at the state and local levels.