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Scholarship

Susan Steelman Bragato Scholarship: Supporting Charter School Graduates on Their Educational Journey

In June 2025, the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) will award ten $2,000 scholarships to high school graduates of CCSA member schools. The scholarship is named in honor of Susan Steelman Bragato, the co-founder of the first charter school in California and the founder of the California Network of Educational Charters (which was renamed the California Charter Schools Association in 2003). Susan was one of the first people to recognize the importance of building a strong network of support among charter school leaders statewide. Susan also organized the first California Charter Schools Conference.

The purpose of this scholarship is to celebrate the diversity of charter school communities and the achievements of graduating charter school students by supporting their continuing educational journeys. We encourage students of all backgrounds to apply for our scholarship, including English learners, non-citizens, LGBTQIA+, and students of color.

APPLICATION CRITERIA

  • Student must be graduating on or before July 1, 2025 from a charter high school that is a current member of the California Charter Schools Association.
  • Student must have a demonstrated need for financial aid.
  • Winning applicants will be required to provide proof of enrollment at an accredited two or four-year public or private university, college, or technical school.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will open on Friday, February 28, 2025. Sign up here to be notified as soon as the application becomes available.

KEY 2024 DEADLINES

Below is the 2024-25 school year’s timeline for the Bragato Scholarship:

  • February 28: Bragato Scholarship begins accepting applications.
  • April 17 at 9 a.m.: Scholarship stops accepting applications.
  • May 28: Winning students will be notified that they have won the scholarship.

HOW WINNERS ARE SELECTED

Student applications will be anonymized and reviewed by staff of the California Charter Schools Association. Applications will be scored on a rubric, with the ten highest scoring applications awarded a scholarship.

Click here for past award winners.

Please contact awards@ccsa.org if you have any questions.