[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 351 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 351

 Congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, 
     and administrators across the United States for their ongoing 
          contributions to education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 4, 2004

  Mr. Gregg (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Frist, Mr. Carper, Mrs. 
Dole, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Craig, Mr. Coleman, 
Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Durbin, Mr. DeWine, and Mr. Brownback) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, 
     and administrators across the United States for their ongoing 
          contributions to education, and for other purposes.

Whereas charter schools deliver high-quality education and challenge our 
        students to reach their potential;
Whereas charter schools provide thousands of families with diverse and 
        innovative educational options for their children;
Whereas charter schools are public schools authorized by a designated public 
        entity that are responding to the needs of our communities, families, 
        and students and promoting the principles of quality, choice, and 
        innovation;
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 41 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
        have passed laws authorizing charter schools;
Whereas nearly 3,000 charter schools are now operating in 37 States, the 
        District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and serving 
        750,000 students;
Whereas over the last 10 years, Congress has provided more than $1,000,000,000 
        in support to the charter school movement through facilities financing 
        assistance and grants for planning, startup, implementation, and 
        dissemination;
Whereas charter schools improve their students' achievement and stimulate 
        improvement in traditional public schools;
Whereas charter schools must meet the student achievement accountability 
        requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 in 
        the same manner as traditional public schools, and often set higher and 
        additional individual goals to ensure that they are of high quality and 
        truly accountable to the public;
Whereas charter schools give parents new freedom to choose their public school, 
        routinely measure parental satisfaction levels, and must prove their 
        ongoing success to parents, policymakers, and their communities;
Whereas nearly 40 percent of charter schools report having a waiting list, and 
        the total number of students on all such waiting lists is enough to fill 
        over 1,000 average-sized charter schools;
Whereas charter schools nationwide serve a higher percentage of low-income and 
        minority students than the traditional public system;
Whereas charter schools have enjoyed broad bipartisan support from the 
        Administration, Congress, State Governors and legislatures, educators, 
        and parents across the United States; and
Whereas the fifth annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 3 to 7, 
        2004, is an event sponsored by charter schools and grassroots charter 
        school organizations across the United States to recognize the 
        significant impact, achievements, and innovations of charter schools: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the Senate acknowledges and commends charter schools 
        and their students, parents, teachers, and administrators 
        across the United States for their ongoing contributions to 
        education and improving and strengthening our public school 
        system;
            (2) the Senate supports the fifth annual National Charter 
        Schools Week; and
            (3) it is the sense of the Senate that 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 during this weeklong 
        celebration in communities throughout the United States.
                                 <all>