[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 108 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 108

Designating the week beginning on April 30, 2000, and ending on May 6, 
              2000, as ``National Charter Schools Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 4, 2000

  Mr. Lieberman (for himself, Mr. Gregg, and Mr. Kerry) submitted the 
  following concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Designating the week beginning on April 30, 2000, and ending on May 6, 
              2000, as ``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 $350,000,000 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 benefiting 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 Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) acknowledges and commends the charter school movement 
        for its contribution to improving our Nation's public school 
        system;
            (2) designates the week beginning on April 30, 2000, and 
        ending on May 6, 2000, as ``National Charter Schools Week''; 
        and
            (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to observe the week 
        by conducting appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities 
        to demonstrate support for charter schools in communities 
        throughout the Nation.
                                 <all>