Four Idaho charter schools were awarded over $5 million to split in federal funds, announced Bluum, the non-profit which administers the funds.

The funds will help launch two new schools — Gem Prep Rexburg and Elevate Academy Kuna — and help expand the two others.

At least 1,400 new seats will be created with the funds.

The funding is part of the Idaho Building on Success grant.

“Idaho has become a national leader in expanding access to high-quality public charter schools,” Terry Ryan, CEO of Bluum, said in a news release. “The rigor and competitiveness of the federal Charter School Program grants have been key to this success, and we continue to see outstanding educators and innovators deliver exceptional school models for Idaho students.”

Since 2018, Bluum has managed 42 charter school program grants worth almost $42 million.

This round, Gem Prep Rexburg will receive $2 million to help with start-up costs. The school is the latest for Gem Prep, a college preparatory focused charter school network with seven schools throughout the state and online programs.

Elevate Academy will also receive $2 million to open a new school in Kuna. Elevate Academy already operates four schools in Idaho with another set to open in Twin Falls next year and Kuna in 2027. Elevate focuses on career-technical education serving at-risk students.

Meridian Medical Arts Charter High will receive $675,205 to expand its programs by 46 seats. Gem Prep Learning Societies, a micro-school program, will receive $1.2 million to expand, adding 305 seats.

Disclosure: Idaho Education News and Bluum are both supported by grants from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct how many seats this round of grant funding will create. It is expected to create about 1,400 new charter school seats.