New and in-the-works charter schools in Colorado will get a cash infusion thanks to a $20.8 million federal grant.

The three-year grant was awarded Wednesday at Ridgeview Classical Schools in Fort Collins. Michael Clough, regional team manager for the Colorado Department of Education, accepted the check on behalf of the Colorado Public Charter School Grant Program. U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave and Patricia Chlouber, regional representative for the U.S. Secretary of Education, presented the check.

Under the grant, 95 percent of the fund will go to new and developing charter schools in their first three years of operation. Grant applications will be awarded to developing charter schools for a variety of needs including professional development, training and seminars for charter school authorizers (school districts) and research on the effectiveness of charter school models.