[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 24, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 33--SUPPORTING A NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS 
                                  WEEK

  Mr. GREGG (for himself and Mr. Lieberman) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 33

       Whereas charter schools are public schools authorized by a 
     designated public body and operating on the principles of 
     accountability, parent flexibility, choice, and autonomy;
       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 36 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have passed laws authorizing 
     charter schools;
       Whereas 35 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will have received more than 
     $500,000,000 in grants from the Federal Government by the end 
     of the current fiscal year for planning, startup, and 
     implementation of charter schools since their authorization 
     in 1994 under part C of title X of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8061 et seq.);
       Whereas 34 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are serving approximately 550,000 
     students in more than 2,150 charter schools during the 2000 
     to 2001 school year;
       Whereas charter schools can be vehicles both for improving 
     student achievement for students who attend them and for 
     stimulating change and improvement in all public schools and 
     benefiting all public school students;
       Whereas charter schools in many States serve significant 
     numbers of low income, minority, and disabled students;
       Whereas the Charter Schools Expansion Act of 1998 (Public 
     Law 105-278) amended the Federal grant program for charter 
     schools authorized by part C of title X of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8061 et seq.) to 
     strengthen accountability provisions at the Federal, State, 
     and local levels to ensure that charter public schools are of 
     high quality and are truly accountable to the public;
       Whereas 7 of 10 charter schools report having a waiting 
     list;
       Whereas students in charter schools nationwide have similar 
     demographic characteristics as students in all public 
     schools;
       Whereas charter schools have enjoyed broad bipartisan 
     support from the Administration, Congress, State governors 
     and legislatures, educators, and parents across the Nation; 
     and
       Whereas charter schools are centers of reform and serve as 
     models of how to educate children as effectively as possible: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) acknowledges and commends the charter school movement 
     for its contribution to improving student achievement and our 
     Nation's public school system;
       (2) designates the period beginning on April 30, 2001, and 
     ending on May 4, 2001, as ``National Charter Schools Week''; 
     and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe the 
     week by conducting appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
     activities to demonstrate support for charter schools in 
     communities throughout the Nation.

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