[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 781 Engrossed in House (EH)]


H. Res. 781

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                           May 3, 2006.
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 40 States and the District of Columbia have passed laws authorizing 
        charter schools;
Whereas over 3,600 charter schools are now operating in 40 States and the 
        District of Columbia serving more than 1 million students;
Whereas over the last 12 years, Congress has provided nearly $1,775,000,000 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 56 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 1,100 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 seventh annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 1 
        through 6, 2006, is an event sponsored by charter schools and grassroots 
        charter school organizations across the United States to recognize the 
        significant impacts, achievements, and innovations of charter schools: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the House of Representatives 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 House of Representatives supports the seventh annual 
        National Charter Schools Week; and
            (3) it is the sense of the House of Representatives 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.



            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.