[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 438 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 438

 Congratulating the students, parents, teachers, and administrators of 
      charter schools across the United States for their ongoing 
contributions to education, and supporting the ideals and goals of the 
15th annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 4 through May 
                               10, 2014.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 6, 2014

 Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Mr. Alexander, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Carper, 
 Mr. Durbin, Mr. McCain, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Rubio, 
   Mr. Coons, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Burr, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Graham, and Mr. 
  Scott) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Congratulating the students, parents, teachers, and administrators of 
      charter schools across the United States for their ongoing 
contributions to education, and supporting the ideals and goals of the 
15th annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 4 through May 
                               10, 2014.

Whereas charter schools are public schools that do not charge tuition and enroll 
        any student who wants to attend a charter school, often through a random 
        lottery when too many students want to attend a single charter school;
Whereas high-performing charter schools deliver a high-quality public education 
        and challenge all students to reach their potential for academic 
        success;
Whereas charter schools promote innovation and excellence in public education;
Whereas charter schools throughout the United States provide millions of 
        families with diverse and innovative educational options for their 
        children;
Whereas high-performing charter schools are dramatically increasing student 
        achievement and college-going rates;
Whereas charter schools are authorized by a designated public entity and--

    (1) respond to the needs of communities, families, and students in the 
United States; and

    (2) promote the principles of quality, accountability, choice, and 
innovation;

Whereas in exchange for flexibility and autonomy, charter schools are held 
        accountable by the public authorizers of such charter schools for 
        improving student achievement and for sound financial and operational 
        management;
Whereas charter schools are required to meet the student achievement 
        accountability requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) in the same manner as traditional 
        public schools;
Whereas charter schools often set higher expectations for students, beyond the 
        requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), to ensure that such charter schools are of 
        high quality and truly accountable to the public;
Whereas 42 States and the District of Columbia have enacted laws authorizing 
        charter schools;
Whereas more than 6,400 charter schools serve more than 2,500,000 children;
Whereas in the United States--

    (1) in 135 school districts, more than 10 percent of public school 
students are enrolled in charter schools;

    (2) in 32 school districts, at least 20 percent of public school 
students are enrolled in charter schools; and

    (3) in 7 districts, at least 30 percent of public school students are 
enrolled in charter schools;

Whereas charter schools improve the achievement of students enrolled in such 
        charter schools and collaborate with traditional public schools to 
        improve public education for all students;
Whereas charter schools--

    (1) give parents the freedom to choose public schools;

    (2) routinely measure parental satisfaction levels; and

    (3) must prove their ongoing success to parents, policymakers, and the 
communities served by such charter schools;

Whereas approximately 920,000 students were on waiting lists to attend charter 
        schools before the beginning of the 2012-2013 academic year; and
Whereas the 15th annual National Charter Schools Week is scheduled to be 
        celebrated the week of May 4 through May 10, 2014: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the students, families, teachers, and 
        administrators of charter schools across the United States 
        for--
                    (A) their ongoing contributions to education;
                    (B) their impressive strides in closing the 
                academic achievement gap in schools in the United 
                States, particularly schools with some of the most 
                disadvantaged students in both rural and urban 
                communities; and
                    (C) improving and strengthening the public school 
                system in the United States;
            (2) supports the ideals and goals of the 15th annual 
        National Charter Schools Week, a week-long celebration to be 
        held the week of May 4 through May 10, 2014, in communities 
        throughout the United States; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to hold 
        appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities during 
        National Charter Schools Week to demonstrate support for 
        charter schools.
                                 <all>