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PCSD Receives $20 Million Award from the U.S. Department of Education for Credit Enhancement

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Pacific Charter School Development Receives $20 Million Award from the U.S. Department of Education for Credit Enhancement

Los Angeles, California, September 29, 2023 — Pacific Charter School Development (PCSD), a non-profit organization committed to addressing educational inequality, is proud to announce the receipt of a $20 million award from the U.S. Department of Education’s Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program for 2023. This significant award will further PCSD’s mission to empower charter schools and create sustainable educational facilities in under-resourced communities across California, Texas, and Washington.

PCSD’s overarching goal is to demonstrate how their innovative model, which includes partnering with philanthropic and mission-minded investors, can expand the lending market for early-stage and expanding schools. By leveraging this award, PCSD seeks to significantly impact the charter school community and provide equal educational opportunities to students in underserved communities.

The award, administered through the U.S. Department of Education’s Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program, marks a pivotal moment in PCSD’s journey to transform education in underserved areas. With this award, PCSD aims to strengthen charter school facilities and expand educational opportunities for students who need it most.

The $20 million award from the U.S. Department of Education will be instrumental in PCSD’s ongoing efforts to create educational facilities that are financially sustainable. The award will be allocated to two primary strategies:

1. $12 Million Loan Loss Reserve: This reserve will be leveraged with $35 million of PCSD’s equity to raise a total of $40 million in commercial debt with advantageous terms. This initiative will establish the $75 million Pacific Charter Facility Fund (PCFF), dedicated to providing low-cost capital for the development of new charter school facilities.

2. $8 Million Debt Service Reserve: Designed to increase charter schools’ access to financing, this reserve will incentivize lenders to offer financing, especially to early-stage schools, with terms that they can afford.

Through the PCFF, PCSD is committed to supporting a minimum of 15 school facility projects within the first five years of the award, including 10 early-stage or expanding schools and 5 replicating schools. The organization plans to leverage a remarkable 25:1 Debt Reserve to senior debt ratio to secure financing with affordable terms for at least 10 school facility projects.

“We are deeply honored to receive this award from the U.S. Department of Education,” said John Sun, CEO of PCSD. “This funding will not only transform the landscape of charter school facilities but also empower countless students with access to high-quality education. We are grateful for the Department of Education’s support in our mission to dismantle systemic inequality in education.”

About Pacific Charter School Development
Pacific Charter School Development (PCSD) is a non-profit, full-service real estate development firm. It offers an array of services tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of each of our charter school partners. During our nearly 20-year history, PCSD has secured more than $1.09 billion in financing for school development projects, benefiting more than 120 schools and serving over 49,000 students in under-resourced communities in California, Massachusetts, Washington, and Texas. For more information, visit Pacific Charter School Development.

The post PCSD Receives $20 Million Grant from the U.S. Department of Education for Credit Enhancement appeared first on Pacific Charter School Development.

PCSD Receives $20 Million Award from the U.S. Department of Education for Credit Enhancement

October 3, 2023

By PCSD Staff

Pacific Charter School Development Receives $20 Million Award from the U.S. Department of Education for Credit Enhancement

Los Angeles, California, September 29, 2023 — Pacific Charter School Development (PCSD), a non-profit organization committed to addressing educational inequality, is proud to announce the receipt of a $20 million award from the U.S. Department of Education’s Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program for 2023. This significant award will further PCSD’s mission to empower charter schools and create sustainable educational facilities in under-resourced communities across California, Texas, and Washington.

PCSD’s overarching goal is to demonstrate how their innovative model, which includes partnering with philanthropic and mission-minded investors, can expand the lending market for early-stage and expanding schools. By leveraging this award, PCSD seeks to significantly impact the charter school community and provide equal educational opportunities to students in underserved communities.

The award, administered through the U.S. Department of Education’s Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program, marks a pivotal moment in PCSD’s journey to transform education in underserved areas. With this award, PCSD aims to strengthen charter school facilities and expand educational opportunities for students who need it most.

The $20 million award from the U.S. Department of Education will be instrumental in PCSD’s ongoing efforts to create educational facilities that are financially sustainable. The award will be allocated to two primary strategies:

1. $12 Million Loan Loss Reserve: This reserve will be leveraged with $35 million of PCSD’s equity to raise a total of $40 million in commercial debt with advantageous terms. This initiative will establish the $75 million Pacific Charter Facility Fund (PCFF), dedicated to providing low-cost capital for the development of new charter school facilities.

2. $8 Million Debt Service Reserve: Designed to increase charter schools’ access to financing, this reserve will incentivize lenders to offer financing, especially to early-stage schools, with terms that they can afford.

Through the PCFF, PCSD is committed to supporting a minimum of 15 school facility projects within the first five years of the award, including 10 early-stage or expanding schools and 5 replicating schools. The organization plans to leverage a remarkable 25:1 Debt Reserve to senior debt ratio to secure financing with affordable terms for at least 10 school facility projects.

“We are deeply honored to receive this award from the U.S. Department of Education,” said John Sun, CEO of PCSD. “This funding will not only transform the landscape of charter school facilities but also empower countless students with access to high-quality education. We are grateful for the Department of Education’s support in our mission to dismantle systemic inequality in education.”

About Pacific Charter School Development
Pacific Charter School Development (PCSD) is a non-profit, full-service real estate development firm. It offers an array of services tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of each of our charter school partners. During our nearly 20-year history, PCSD has secured more than $1.09 billion in financing for school development projects, benefiting more than 120 schools and serving over 49,000 students in under-resourced communities in California, Massachusetts, Washington, and Texas. For more information, visit Pacific Charter School Development.

The post PCSD Receives $20 Million Grant from the U.S. Department of Education for Credit Enhancement appeared first on Pacific Charter School Development.

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