[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1149 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 1149

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                           May 5, 2010.
Whereas charter schools deliver high-quality education and challenge our 
        students to reach their potential;
Whereas charter schools promote innovation and excellence in public education;
Whereas charter schools provide hundreds of 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 39 States, the District of Columbia, and Guam have passed laws 
        authorizing charter schools;
Whereas 4,956 charter schools, an increase of 292 schools from last school year, 
        are now serving almost 1,500,000 children;
Whereas over the last 16 years, Congress has provided substantial support to the 
        charter school movement through startup grants for planning, 
        implementation, and dissemination of charter schools;
Whereas over 365,000 children are on charter school waiting lists nationally;
Whereas charter schools improve their students' achievement and often 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 11th annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 2 through 
        May 8, 2010, 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) supports the goals and ideals of the 11th annual National 
        Charter Schools Week;
            (2) 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; and
            (3) calls 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.