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Supports & Resources
We strive to make our application process fair, transparent, and as supportive as possible. Browse our resources and supports.
Timeline
We review applications on a rolling basis. If you apply by December 1, you’ll receive an update on your application by the end of January. The final application deadline is January 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Applicants can expect to hear an initial update by March and a final decision by June.
Need help? Contact us.
Application Guide
Read our 2026 Funding Application Guide to see questions in advance and review helpful information as you go through the application process.
Webinar
View our full 2026 Funding Opportunity webinar and slide deck. Learn more about our funding opportunity and investment areas, preview the application process, and hear directly from our investment teams about what we’re looking for this year.
- If you’re applying to launch a new, innovative school, view the Schools Application webinar recording.
- If your idea aligns with our Learning Solutions, Teaching Reimagined, or Learning Differences investment areas, view the General Application webinar recording.
If you’re not sure which investment area fits your idea, read more about What We Fund.
Webinar Chapters
- Overview
- General Application
- Schools Application
Office Hours
Office hours have now ended, however there are many other resources available to help you submit a strong application.
Join our office hours to ask questions in small groups about the application process, venture experience, or your eligibility. Drop in at any point during the designated time. We ask that you register in advance to share your questions and contact information. We strongly recommend watching our webinar recording (forthcoming) before attending an office hour session.
- [Complete] Office Hours: Wednesday, November 19 | 12:00 – 1:30 p.m PT
- [Complete] Office Hours for First-time Applicants: Wednesday, December 3 | 12:00 – 1:30 p.m PT
- [Complete] Office Hours: Friday, December 5 | 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PT
Contact Us
Review the Frequently Asked Questions. Still have a question or need guidance? Contact us by submitting a question via our inquiry form. We encourage you to submit your questions early so that we can best support you in completing your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to this funding opportunity?
This funding opportunity is open for ideas that align with at least one of our investment areas: Innovative Schools, Learning Solutions, Teaching Reimagined, or Learning Differences.
The first step to apply is to complete the eligibility form, which will help you understand if your idea is aligned with this funding opportunity and which application is the best fit for your idea.
- Applicants who are opening a school will complete the schools application.
- Applicants who are aligned with the Learning Solutions, Teaching Reimagined, or Learning Differences investment areas will complete the general application.
You can preview the eligibility form and application questions in the application guide.
At what stage do you invest in ideas?
We invest in early-stage organizations, new initiatives within existing organizations, and new, innovative public schools.
- Our Innovative Schools team invests in new schools opening in Fall 2026, Fall 2027, or Fall 2028.
- Our Learning Solutions, Teaching Reimagined, and Learning Differences teams invest in ideas from the pilot through the first 2 years of implementation. We do not invest in ideas that cannot be piloted within a year or those that have been implemented for more than 2 years and are focused on growth and scale.
I am working on an impactful education policy. May I apply for funding?
No, NewSchools does not fund 501c4s or policy-focused efforts.
Eligibility Specific to Innovative Schools
What are the general requirements for schools to be eligible for funding?
To be eligible, schools must:
- Enroll students within the K-12 grade span on a full-time basis.
- Be a fully publicly-funded school that does not charge for students to attend.
- Be a first or second charter school in an emerging charter management organization.
- Be a new district school with a path to secure the autonomies noted below.
- Be a new charter school within a CMO that has a significantly different instructional model/ approach.
At what stage do you provide funding for a new school?
We fund schools that are opening in the fall of 2026, 2027, and 2028. Your application will depend on when you plan to open the school and the type of school you plan to open. The eligibility form will help you to determine your next steps.
- If you plan to open a school in 2026 with a launch grant, please complete a brief interest form and we’ll invite you to submit a full application this summer.
- If you plan to open a school in 2027 with a planning grant, you can submit an application after completing the eligibility form.
- If you plan to open a charter school in 2028 with a design grant, you can submit an application after completing the eligibility form. We welcome all applicants and are interested in supporting leaders who want to launch a new charter school in partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Do I need an HBCU partner to be eligible for a charter school design grant?
No, a partnership with a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) is not required to be considered for a charter school design grant.
Our 2026 design grants are open to aspiring charter school leaders who plan to open a new school in 2028. Learn more.
While we are especially interested in supporting leaders who are developing schools in partnership with HBCUs, we also welcome applicants who are not pursuing this type of partnership.
Do I need to be a single-site founder (School 1) to be eligible for a charter school design grant?
No. Our charter school design grants are open to aspiring leaders planning to open a new single-site school in 2028, as well as to existing charter school leaders interested in developing new schools in partnership with HBCUs within their network. If you’re an existing charter school or part of a network pursuing an HBCU partnership, you should complete the charter school design grant application.
Do charter schools have to be authorized by the application deadline?
Charter schools do not need to be authorized by the application deadline in order to move forward in the application process. However, we do take into account where in the authorization process teams are in relation to their launch year and any significant barriers to authorization before disbursing funding. We expect teams to have a clear plan for achieving this milestone and a strong understanding of their local context.
If you have not received authorization, it is highly unlikely that you will be on track to open in the 2026-27 school year. If that’s the case for your school, a design or planning grant is likely a better fit for you.
What autonomies do district schools need to be eligible for funding?
District schools must have autonomies in hiring, instructional design, and school management. These do not need to be formalized by the application timeline but should be secured before the school opens to receive additional funding. We do, however, require a letter of support from the district’s superintendent or designee at the time of application to consider your school proposal for funding.
What kinds of schools are not eligible for funding?
We are not funding restarts, turnarounds, replications, or expansions within established charter management organizations, nor are we funding redesigns of existing schools or schools within schools. We also do not fund schools that charge tuition for students to attend.
What do you consider to be restarts or turnarounds?
A turnaround involves replacing key leadership and staff, while a restart refers to transferring control from an existing school to another operator. We do not provide funding to existing schools. If you’re unsure about your school’s designation, please contact us.
Are virtual and hybrid school models eligible?
Yes, virtual and hybrid models are eligible, provided they are new public schools and meet the criteria noted above.
Are preschool centers eligible?
No. Centers that only serve Pre-K students aren’t eligible. To qualify, schools must plan to serve multiple K–12 grade levels at full enrollment.
What if I am launching a school in Fall 2029 or beyond?
We do not currently have an open funding opportunity for schools launching in Fall 2029 or later. At this time, you can complete a brief interest form to share your idea and contact information with our team.
Eligibility Specific to Learning Solutions, Learning Differences, and Teaching Reimagined
Do I need to be legally incorporated to be eligible for funding?
No, you do not need to be incorporated to apply. We can grant funds through fiscal sponsors or directly to individuals, but you should be working towards securing nonprofit or for-profit status. For more information, please complete our eligibility form.
Do I need to have a newly formed organization to be eligible for funding?
Not necessarily. We prioritize new organizations but also fund new initiatives within existing ones. We focus on truly new efforts, not expansions or improvements of ideas that have been implemented for 2+ years. For more information, please complete our eligibility form.
Do I need to have piloted my idea to be eligible for funding?
We fund early-stage ideas that are ready to pilot within one year or are currently in their first two years of implementation. If you have not yet piloted your work, you are still eligible to apply.
In your application, please describe your progress to date — such as prototype development, research, or partnerships — that demonstrates you are ready to move toward implementation.
Can I apply for funding if my idea will be implemented at my school?
NewSchools invests in innovative ideas that aim to improve K–12 public education across the United States. We focus on ideas designed to benefit students across multiple schools, not those limited to a single site.
If your idea is intended to impact students beyond your own school — by sharing practices, tools, or approaches that can be scaled or adapted elsewhere — you may be eligible to apply.
If I receive funding, do I need to lead this work full time?
We expect a dedicated leader for both new organizations and initiatives. For new organizations, a full-time commitment is expected within three months of receiving the grant. For initiatives within existing organizations, the leader should dedicate at least 50% of their time to the work.
What type of financial support do ventures receive?
Ventures typically receive a one-year, unrestricted grant ranging from $150,000 to $250,000, depending on the stage of the idea.
Are there other supports that I will receive in addition to funding?
Yes! In addition to financial support, venture leaders participate in a Community of Practice to build relationships and learn from peer organizations. You’ll also receive one-on-one support from a member of our staff, access to national experts, and resources in areas like school model or program design, staffing, inclusive design, fundraising, financial sustainability, and operations. We also provide support related to data collection, impact measurement, and continuous improvement.
Learn more about our comprehensive support through this video.
What materials do I need to complete the application?
View our Application Guide. When you’re ready, create an account in our funding portal to complete the eligibility form and submit your application.
Do you provide any support during the application process?
Yes, we offer several opportunities for support, including:
- 2026 Funding Opportunity webinar and slide deck.
- Application Guide
- Office Hours (currently complete):
- [Complete] Office Hours: Wednesday, November 19 at 12:00 – 1:30 PM PT
- [Complete] Office Hours for First-time Applicants: Wednesday, December 3 at 12:00 – 1:30 PM PT
- [Complete] Office Hours: Friday, December 5 at 10:00 – 11:30 AM PT.
- Inquiry Form: Contact us at any time by submitting a question via our inquiry form and receive a response within 3 business days. Please send your inquiry by December 15. After that date, staff support pauses for the holidays
When will I get an update on the status of my application? If I’m selected, when will I receive funding?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are submitted. If you apply by the early submission deadline on December 1, you’ll receive an update on your application as early as the end of January.
Applicants who submit by December 1, 2025 will receive an update on their application by the end of January.
All applicants will receive an update on the status of their application by March 2026 and funding decisions by June 2026. Funding will be disbursed in the summer of 2026.
The portal is loading but I don’t see the application.
This can happen as a result of browser or computer settings. Try opening the application in private or incognito mode, using a different browser or using a different computer. Please open this application in full screen mode for the best viewing and navigation experience.
I’m not receiving the email to set up my password and account.
The email may be caught in a spam folder or is blocked by your email server. Try using a different email domain such as gmail, yahoo, etc. If you’d like to change the email address in the future, please submit an inquiry that includes the email used to register and the desired email address going forward and we will update your account accordingly.
I submitted my application but need to make a change to my responses.
Given the volume of inquiries we receive, we recommend withdrawing your application and completing a new eligibility form and application to ensure you are able to submit an accurate application ahead of the deadline.
How can I continue to learn more about your funding opportunities?
Join our email list to stay up to date on future funding opportunities.
What if I am not ready to apply?
If you’re not ready to apply, that’s okay! You can join our email list for future opportunities. We invest in early-stage ideas, so you don’t need a fully operational organization to apply. If you’re unsure, submit an inquiry via our inquiry form.