Phoenix International School of the Arts Awarded $286,330 Maryland Momentum Public Charter School Grant

We are thrilled to announce that Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA) has been awarded a $286,330.32 grant from the Maryland Momentum Public Charter School Program by the Maryland Alliance of Public Charter Schools. This significant funding will support our mission of providing high-quality, arts-focused education to our diverse student body, including those from rural communities throughout Charles County.

Bridging the Funding Gap

As a public charter school offering a dual-curricular program that combines rigorous academics with intensive arts training, PISOTA faces unique funding challenges. Though we receive per-pupil funding through Charles County Public Schools, this allocation doesn't fully address the specialized resources and staffing required for our arts-integrated educational model and global competence focus.

The recent Maryland State Board of Education decision on commensurate funding for charter schools (Opinion No. 24-27) affirms that charter schools deserve equitable funding while acknowledging the complex budgetary considerations involved. This grant helps bridge the gap between standard public school funding and the enhanced resources needed for our differentiated curriculum.

Strategic Allocation of Grant Funds

The grant funds will be strategically allocated across several key areas to strengthen our educational program:

Personnel and Fringe Benefits ($171,876.38)

We're investing 56% of the grant in human capital, including:

• Teacher professional development resources

• Support for our CEO, who is currently the only staff for the charter management organization

• An Operations Manager to oversee daily school operations and finances

Professional Services ($124,040)

To ensure financial stability and compliance, we're allocating funds for:

• Independent CPA firm audit ($19,000)

• Ongoing accounting and finance consulting ($79,740)

• Legal fees for charter amendments and policy updates ($20,000)

• Professional development facilitators for our staff ($5,300)

Supplies and Materials ($10,000)

This investment will provide necessary materials for a rich, arts-integrated learning experience for our 255 students, including:

• Arts materials for various disciplines

• Traditional school supplies

• Specialized curriculum materials

Supporting Our Educational Vision

This funding directly supports PISOTA's key design pillars: 1) excellence in a-cubed (academics, arts instruction and arts integration), 2) global competence, leadership and bilingualism, 3) mental health and holistic wellness, 4) real-world experience and access to experts, and 5) community uplift.

As we continue serving 255 student scholars from all neighborhoods in Charles County, this grant will help us deliver on our mission to inspire and prepare the next generation of global artists, innovators, leaders, and scholars to use their intrinsic gifts to make the world a better place. We remain committed to providing a supportive learning community that promotes creative exploration, global competence, holistic wellness, and real-world experiences.

Looking Forward

This grant is part of a two-year funding timeline that will help us build sustainability for the future. We'll be working with the Maryland Alliance of Public Charter Schools throughout this process, focusing on board training, developing a comprehensive board dashboard, and implementing a sustainability plan for long-term success.

We're grateful to the Maryland Momentum Public Charter School Program for this support and to our community of students, families, staff, and partners for their continued dedication to our school's mission. Together, we're creating a vibrant, inclusive, and innovative educational environment that prepares students for success in the 21st century while contributing positively to our diverse community.

Stay tuned for updates as we implement these exciting enhancements to our program!

Public Charter Schools
A public charter school is nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies, employment practices, and all other operations, and is not affiliated with a sectarian school or religious institution. Public charter schools are open to all students who apply and cannot charge tuition. A charter school receiving CSP funds must use a lottery if more students apply for admissions to the charter school than can be admitted.
About the Maryland Momentum CSP Grant
The Maryland Alliance of Public Charter Schools received a $28.7 million grant over five years.  At least 90 percent of these dollars will flow to public charter school subgrantees for school start-up, school replication and school expansion. The remaining 10% will be used for technical assistance and grant administration.
Federal CSP Program Description
The CSP State Entities program is newly authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (20 U.S.C. 7221-7221j). Prior to enactment of the ESSA, the ESEA, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), authorized the Secretary to make awards to State educational agencies to enable them to conduct charter school subgrant programs in their States. The CSP State Entities program is under new law and has different eligibility requirements, priorities, definitions, application requirements, and selection criteria.
The major purposes of the CSP are to expand opportunities for all students, particularly traditionally underserved students, to attend charter schools and meet challenging State academic standards; provide financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of public charter schools; increase the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the United States; evaluate the impact of charter schools on student achievement, families, and communities; share best practices between charter schools and other public schools; encourage States to provide facilities support to charter schools; and support efforts to strengthen the charter school authorizing process.
The CSP grants to State Entities (CFDA number 84.282A) is a competitive grant program that enables State entities to award subgrants to eligible applicants in their State to open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools and to replicate and expand high-quality charter schools. Grant funds may also be used by the State entity to provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in opening and preparing for the operation of new charter schools, or replicating or expanding high-quality charter schools; and to work with authorized public chartering agencies to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools.