U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today that the department will allocate $50 million in grants to top-notch charter management organizations to help them expand their reach.
This is the first time the feds have specifically sought to help good charters replicate their efforts.

Twelve charter management organizations made the cut.

The lucky dozen:

*Achievement First: Will get $1.67 million to create 14 new schools and expand two schools in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island

*Aspire: Will get $5.58 million to create 15 new schools in California.

*Foundation for a Greater Opportunity: Will get nearly $1.5 million for one new school and 3 expanded schools in New York City.

*IDEA: Will get $8.73 million to get 22 new schools up-and-running in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.

*KIPP Foundation: Will get $14.5 million for 21 new schools and 11 expanded schools in a bunch of states including Arkansas, Colorado, Washington, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. That’s on top of KIPP’s whopping $50 million Investing in Innovation grant.

*LEARN: Will get $1.02 million to create 3 new schools and expand 2 schools in Chicago.

*Mastery: Will get $5.13 milion for 15 new schools in Philly and Camden, N.J.

*Noble: Will get $3.2 million to expand 5 schools and create 6 new schools in Chicago.

*Project YES: Will get $2.7 million for 6 new schools and 2 expanded schools in Houston.

*Propel: Will get $1.14 million for 4 new schools and 1 expanded school in Pittsburgh

*Success: Will get nearly $2 million for 13 new schools and 3 expanded schools in New York City

*Uncommon: Will get $2.6 million for 7 new schools and 2 expanded schools in New York and New Jersey.