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ClosedState of CaliforniaAgency ID 7537

21st Century California School Leadership Academy, Cohort 3

CA Department of Education · State of California

At a glance

21st Century California School Leadership Academy, Cohort 3 is a closed California state grant opportunity from CA Department of Education (State of California). The application deadline was June 24, 2026. Total estimated funding is $12.8M across about 8 awards. Applicant types listed as eligible include nonprofit and public agency. It is listed on the California Grants Portal. Cost sharing is not required.

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Key facts

  1. May 13, 2026Posted
  2. Jun 24, 2026Application deadline
Opened
May 13, 2026
Close date
Jun 24, 2026
Award floor
Not specified
Award ceiling
Not specified
Est. total funding
$12,828,000
Implied average award
$1,603,500 calculated
Expected awards
8
Matching funds
Not required
Funding instrument
Grant

Program details (as published on the California Grants Portal)

Type
Grant
Funding source
Federal — The 21CSLA Cohort 3 grant program is funded through Budget Act 26, Item 6100-195-0890 Schedule 3 as established by California Education Code Section 44690.
Matching funds
Not Required
Funding method
Reimbursement(s)
Estimated number of awards
Exactly 8
Estimated award amounts
Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Award period
10/1/26 - 9/30/29
Expected award announcement
September 3, 2026
Letter of intent
Required
Geography
A goal of the 21CSLA Cohort 3 Program is to have a Regional Academy located in each of the seven Geographic Lead Agency boundaries. A statewide map of the Geographic Lead Agency boundaries can be found on the CDE Geographic Lead Agency web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/sw/t1/crss.asp. Please note that applicants may only apply to serve one region.
How to submit
Online: https://surveys3.cde.ca.gov/go/21csla_cohort_3_regional_academy_application.asp

Implied average = estimated total funding ÷ expected number of awards, calculated by GrantsJunction. Actual awards vary.

Who can apply

Applicant categories as listed on the California Grants Portal. GrantsJunction maps them to detailed applicant types for search and matching.

  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Purpose and description as published on the California Grants Portal.

Purpose

California Education Code Section 44690(c)(1) directs the California Department of Education (CDE), the State Board of Education (SBE) and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) to select providers of professional learning for administrators and other school leaders. The professional learning through the 21CSLA will be free of charge to local educational agencies that receive federal Title II funds.

Description

The CDE, SBE, and CCEE will select one awardee to serve as the 21CSLA Center and up to seven awardees to serve as 21CSLA Regional Academies. Please note that the Center application is a renewal. Only the current 21CSLA Center may apply. Awardees, supported by the CDE, CCEE, and SBE, will work collaboratively within the Statewide System of Support (SOS) to build the capacity of educational leaders statewide through professional learning aligned to the California Professional Standards for Education Leaders (CPSEL) and the Quality Professional Learning Standards (QPLS). A goal of this program is to have a Regional Academy located in each of the seven Geographic Lead Agency boundaries. A statewide map of the Geographic Lead Agency boundaries can be found on the CDE Geographic Lead Agency web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/sw/t1/crss.asp. The 21CSLA Center will be awarded a minimum of $2 million per year and each 21CSLA Regional Academy will be awarded a minimum of $1 million per year for a three-year period. Additional funding may be available based on regional needs. Regional Academy applicants shall develop a budget that reflects the coverage of their region. Final selection of awardees is subject to approval by the Executive Director of the SBE. The 21CSLA Program was established by Senate Bill 75, Section 26 Statutes of 2019 (see Appendix A). Article 5 (commencing with Section 44690) was added to Chapter 3.1 of part 25 of Division 3 of Title II of the California Education Code, see https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/pl/ca21cslasb75.asp. The law specifies that the professional learning provided through 21CSLA will be made free of charge to LEAs that receive federal Title II funds and include the following: ·Training and coaching for principals and other school leaders in critical areas identified by the CDE and CCEE, in consultation with the Executive Director of the SBE ·Training mentors for novice principals and teachers. ·Training coaches to support leaders in high-need settings. ·Training for central office leaders, principals, and other school leaders, including teacher leaders, involved in school improvement efforts. Lead applicants must be institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit educational services providers, and local educational agencies (LEAs) with expertise in providing professional learning, coaching, and mentoring to principals and other school leaders in public schools serving transitional kindergarten and grades one to twelve, inclusive, to organize and offer high-quality professional learning, coaching, and mentoring for central office leaders, principals, and other schools leaders, including teacher leaders, involved in school improvement efforts.

Program page on the agency site ↗

Program contact (as published)

Alexis Clift and Jeffrey Franey
21CSLA@cde.ca.gov
1-916-445-7331

Quick answers

Who is eligible to apply for “21st Century California School Leadership Academy, Cohort 3”?

The official listing names these applicant types as eligible: Nonprofit and Public Agency. Additional restrictions may apply; review the full guidelines.

How much funding is available through “21st Century California School Leadership Academy, Cohort 3”?

Per the notice, total estimated program funding is $12,828,000 and the agency expects to make about 8 awards.

How do I apply for “21st Century California School Leadership Academy, Cohort 3”?

Applications go directly to CA Department of Education, not through GrantsJunction. Submission: online at https://surveys3.cde.ca.gov/go/21csla_cohort_3_regional_academy_application.asp. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.

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