(a) A charter school that elects to receive its funding directly, pursuant to Section 47651, may apply individually for federal and state categorical programs, not excluded in this section, but only to the extent it is eligible for funding and meets the provisions of the program. For purposes of determining eligibility for, and allocation of, state or federal categorical aid, a charter school that applies individually shall be deemed to be a school district, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(b) A charter school that does not elect to receive its funding directly, pursuant to Section 47651, may apply, in cooperation with its chartering authority, for federal and state categorical programs not specified in this section, but only to the extent it is eligible for funding and meets the provisions of the program.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, a charter school shall not apply directly for categorical programs for which services are exclusively or almost exclusively provided by a county office of education.

(d) Consistent with subdivision (c), a charter school shall not receive direct funding for any of the following county-administered categorical programs:

(1) American Indian Education Centers.

(2) County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team.

(3) The K–12 High Speed Network.

(e) A charter school may apply separately for district-level or school-level grants associated with any of the categorical programs specified in subdivision (d).

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 538, Sec. 24. (SB 416) Effective January 1, 2016.)