III 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 183 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

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.