[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 183 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 183

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Charter Schools Week, April 
                     30, 2007, through May 4, 2007.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 1, 2007

 Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Carper, 
 Mr. Burr, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Vitter, Mrs. Dole, and Mr. Gregg) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Charter Schools Week, April 
                     30, 2007, through May 4, 2007.

Whereas charter schools deliver high-quality education and challenge 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 designated public 
        entities to respond to the needs of communities, families, and students, 
        and to promote the principles of quality, choice, and innovation;
Whereas, in exchange for the flexibility and autonomy given to charter schools, 
        charter schools are held accountable by their sponsors for improving 
        student achievement and for their finances and other operations;
Whereas 40 States and the District of Columbia have passed laws authorizing 
        charter schools;
Whereas more than 4,000 charter schools operating across the United States serve 
        more than 1,140,000 students;
Whereas, over the last 13 years, Congress has provided more than $2,026,225,000 
        in support to the charter school movement by providing facilities, 
        financing assistance, and grants for planning, startup, implementation, 
        and dissemination of information;
Whereas many charter schools improve the achievement of students and stimulate 
        improvement in traditional public schools;
Whereas charter schools must meet the student achievement accountability 
        requirements under section 1111 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311) in the same manner as traditional 
        public schools, and often set higher and additional individual goals to 
        ensure that charter schools are of high quality and truly accountable to 
        the public;
Whereas charter schools give parents new freedom to choose public schools, 
        routinely measure parental satisfaction levels, and must prove their 
        ongoing success to parents, policymakers, and 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 school system;
Whereas charter schools have enjoyed broad bipartisan support from the 
        President, Congress, State governors and legislatures, educators, and 
        parents across the United States; and
Whereas the eighth annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held April 30 
        through May 4, 2007, 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 Senate--
            (1) acknowledges and commends charter schools and students, 
        parents, teachers, and administrators of charter schools across 
        the United States for their ongoing contributions to education 
        and improving and strengthening the public school system;
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of the eighth annual 
        National Charter Schools Week; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to conduct 
        appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to demonstrate 
        support for charter schools during this week-long celebration 
        in communities throughout the United States.
                                 <all>