[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 310 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 310


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 4, 2000

        Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
              Supporting a National Charter Schools Week.

Whereas charter schools are public schools authorized by a designated public 
        body and operating on the principles of accountability, parent 
        flexibility, choice, and autonomy;
Whereas in exchange for the flexibility and autonomy given to charter schools, 
        they are held accountable by their sponsors for improving student 
        achievement and for their financial and other operations;
Whereas 36 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
        have passed laws authorizing charter schools;
Whereas 35 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
        will have received more than $350 million in grants from the Federal 
        Government by the end of the current fiscal year for planning, startup, 
        and implementation of charter schools since their authorization in 1994 
        under title X, part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 8061 et seq.);
Whereas 32 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
        are serving approximately 350,000 students in more than 1,700 charter 
        schools during the 1999 to 2000 school year;
Whereas charter schools can be vehicles both for improving student achievement 
        for students who attend them and for stimulating change and improvement 
        in all public schools and benefitting all public school students;
Whereas charter schools in many States serve significant numbers of students 
        with lower income, students of color, and students with disabilities;
Whereas the Charter Schools Expansion Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-278) amended 
        the Federal grant program for charter schools authorized by title X, 
        part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        8061 et seq.) to strengthen accountability provisions at the Federal, 
        State, and local levels to ensure that charter public schools are of 
        high quality and are truly accountable to the public;
Whereas 7 of 10 charter schools report having a waiting list;
Whereas students in charter schools nationwide have similar demographic 
        characteristics as students in all public schools;
Whereas charter schools have enjoyed broad bipartisan support from the 
        Administration, the Congress, State governors and legislatures, 
        educators, and parents across the Nation; and
Whereas charter schools are laboratories of reform and serve as models of how to 
        educate children as effectively as possible: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the Congress acknowledges and commends the charter 
        school movement for its contribution to improving our Nation's 
        public school system; and
            (2) it is the sense of the Congress that--
                    (A) a National Charter Schools Week should be 
                established; and
                    (B) the President should issue a proclamation 
                calling on the people of the United States to conduct 
                appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to 
                demonstrate support for charter schools in communities 
                throughout the Nation.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 3, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.