[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1168 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                           May 6, 2008.
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 4,300 charter schools are now serving approximately 1,200,000 
        children;
Whereas over the last 14 years, Congress has provided over $2,262,257,000 in 
        support to the charter school movement through startup financing 
        assistance and grants for planning, implementation, and dissemination;
Whereas over 365,000 children are on charter school waiting lists nationally;
Whereas charter schools improve their students' achievement and can 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 must continually demonstrate their ongoing success to 
        parents, policymakers, and their communities, some charter schools 
        routinely measure parental satisfaction levels, and all give parents new 
        freedom to choose their public school;
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 ninth annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 5 through 
        May 9, 2008, 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 the House of Representatives--
            (1) 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) supports the ninth annual National Charter Schools Week; and
            (3) joins the President in 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.