[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1725-H1729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORTING NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 386) supporting a National Charter 
Schools Week, and for other purposes
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 386

       Whereas charter schools are public schools authorized by a 
     designated public body and operating on the principles of 
     accountability, parental involvement, 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 37 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have passed laws authorizing 
     charter schools;
       Whereas 37 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will have received substantial 
     assistance 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 
     the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     6301 et seq.);
       Whereas 34 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are serving over 580,000 students 
     in more than 2,431 charter schools during the 2001-2002 
     school year;
       Whereas charter schools can be vehicles for improving 
     student achievement for students who attend them, for 
     stimulating change and improvement in all public schools, and 
     for benefiting all public school students;
       Whereas charter schools must meet the same Federal student 
     achievement accountability requirements as all public 
     schools, and often set higher and additional goals, to ensure 
     that they are of high quality and truly accountable to the 
     public;
       Whereas charter schools assess and evaluate students 
     annually and often even more frequently, and charter school 
     student achievement is directly linked to charter school 
     existence;
       Whereas charter schools give parents new freedom to choose 
     their public school, charter schools routinely measure 
     parental approval, and charter schools must prove their 
     ongoing and increasing success to parents, policymakers, and 
     their communities;
       Whereas two-thirds of charter schools report having a 
     waiting list, the average size of such a waiting list is 
     nearly one-half of the school's enrollment, and the total 
     number of students on all such waiting lists is enough to 
     fill another 1,000 average-sized charter schools;
       Whereas students in charter schools nationwide have similar 
     demographic characteristics as students in all public 
     schools;
       Whereas charter schools in many States serve significant 
     numbers of students from families with lower income, minority 
     students, and students with disabilities, and in a majority 
     of charter schools, almost half the students are considered 
     at risk or are former dropouts;
       Whereas charter schools have enjoyed broad bipartisan 
     support from the Administration, the Congress, State 
     Governors and legislatures, educators, and parents across the 
     Nation; and
       Whereas charter schools are laboratories of reform and 
     serve as models of how to educate children as effectively as 
     possible: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That--
       (1) the Congress honors the 10th anniversary of the opening 
     of the Nation's first charter school;
       (2) the Congress acknowledges and commends the charter 
     school movement and charter schools, teachers, parents, and 
     students across the Nation for their ongoing contributions to 
     education and improving and strengthening the Nation's public 
     school system;
       (3) the Congress supports the goals of National Charter 
     Schools Week, an event sponsored by charter schools and 
     charter school organizations across the Nation and 
     established to recognize the significant impacts, 
     achievements, and innovations of the Nation's charter 
     schools; and
       (4) it is the sense of the Congress that the President 
     should issue a proclamation calling on the people of the 
     United States to conduct appropriate programs, ceremonies, 
     and activities to demonstrate support for charter schools in 
     communities throughout the Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Delaware (Mr. Castle) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).


                             General Leave

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Con. Res. 386.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Delaware?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller), who is the author of this 
legislation.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Delaware for 
yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my resolution to honor 
National Charter Schools Week House Concurrent Resolution 386. This 
resolution recognizes the many contributions charter schools have made 
to strengthen America's public school system. I introduced this 
resolution because of my firm conviction that charter schools work to 
benefit all students and all schools.
  This resolution honors the 10th anniversary of the opening of the 
Nation's first charter schools. It acknowledges and commends the 
charter school movement and it honors the parents, teachers and 
students across the Nation for their ongoing contributions to education 
and for strengthening the Nation's public school system.
  Since 90 percent of the children in this country go to public 
schools, it is critical that we do what we can to strengthen the public 
school systems. Charter schools have done just that. In just 10 short 
years, there are already almost 2,500 charter schools serving half a 
million students across the country.
  Currently, 37 States, D.C. and Puerto Rico have passed charter school 
laws. Florida's public school system already has over 200 charter 
schools serving almost 30,000 children. There are 11 charter schools in 
my districts alone. I often hear of the successes of Lake Eola Charter 
School and Hope Charter School in Orlando, Florida.
  What are charter schools and why do they offer alternatives for our 
parents and children? Charter schools are public schools established 
under State law that are given varying degrees of autonomy from State 
and local regulations. Charter schools must meet the same Federal 
student achievement accountability requirements as all other public 
schools, and they often set higher and additional goals to ensure that 
they are a high quality and truly accountable to the public.

                              {time}  1730

  This flexibility and exchange for accountability often translates 
into higher test scores and innovative practices. They provide an 
option to parents, often from low-income families, who desire an 
alternative to their local school.
  Charter schools, by their very nature, place more emphasis on 
parental involvement, increased instruction, higher academic standards, 
and character education. They routinely measure parental approval and 
student

[[Page H1726]]

progress. Otherwise, they would cease to exist. A charter school is 
created out of the demand for an alternative to the local school and is 
often started up through a group of active parents and teachers. Many 
of them serve a specific need in the community. Some can be oriented 
toward math and sciences and others exist to satisfy a need for liberal 
arts. Each is unique, but necessary.
  President Bush's landmark legislation, the No Child Left Behind Act, 
contains multiple provisions which support the expansion of charter 
schools. It provides for an additional $200 million to help establish 
700 new charter schools, and we expect an additional $100 million this 
year for construction of new charter school facilities.
  Mr. Speaker, I would again like to congratulate the students, 
parents, teachers, principals, and administrators who have embraced the 
charter school movement and have made it such a success. The bottom 
line is that charter schools work because they are free from burdensome 
regulations and, in return, are held accountable for academic results. 
I urge my colleagues to recognize the role charter schools have made to 
strengthen our public school system and vote ``yes'' on House 
Concurrent Resolution 386.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. ROEMER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I obviously rise in support, strong support, 
of this resolution commending the very important contribution that 
charter schools make to our public schools across this great land, and 
also to designate a week of Charter School Appreciation Week.
  I want to talk a little bit about the past, the present, and the 
future of charter schools. Our families and our parents and our 
teachers are all very excited and very concerned about the prospect of 
public education in America today. It continues to rank as one of the 
highest issues when we poll, when we go to town meetings, when we ask 
any families about their priority concerns across the United States.
  The past of charter schools, when we first got into this issue, was 
working with the new Democrats here in the House of Representatives and 
working with the DLC, the Democratic Leadership Council, and the PPI, 
and coming up with more opportunities for parents to get public school 
choice; not to rip money away from public schools and transfer it to 
private schools, but help support the foundation of public schools, 
while also helping the reform movement, the accountability movement, 
the change movement, the new opportunities for students, parents, and 
teachers movement; to try to get new curriculum and new ideas in our 
public schools. This has caught fire, and a host of States now have 
passed enabling legislation at the State level to create charter 
schools. The Federal Government is passing new laws and new help, 
providing new resources for charter schools to go forward in today's 
education environment.
  So the past has been our efforts to help at the national level to 
create incentives and carrots to foster more public school charter 
schools in the United States. Last year, Indiana became the 38th 
charter school State, and I am very proud of that.
  What is the present state of charter schools? As I said before, 
charter schools stress accountability, parental involvement, choice, 
and autonomy, and I am glad that this type of innovation is now 
beginning in Indiana. Charter schools are public schools that respond 
to an increasingly high demand for choices from parents, from teachers, 
and from students. They represent reform, improvement, and innovation 
in public education. Charter schools often serve our at-risk students. 
Nearly 60 percent of charters serve a population in which more than 40 
percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunches. More than half 
of all charter schools serve a population in which 40 percent of the 
students are minorities. Nearly half of all charter schools serve a 
population in which more than 40 percent of students are considered at 
risk or former dropouts.
  So this is not going out and picking the best students and forming a 
school and then trying to raise test scores and separating the public 
students more and more, or cherry-picking the best and leaving some of 
the at-risk students behind. In fact, many of the charter schools are 
designed to go after those dropouts, to go after those at-risk 
students, to go after those students most in need.
  Mr. Speaker, 34 States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto 
Rico, including Indiana, are serving more than 500,000 students in 
about 2,430 charter schools. I mentioned the District of Columbia, and 
I want to note the support of the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) for these charter schools. I have visited many of 
these schools in the D.C. area, and I want to say for the record that I 
think some of those schools are the most innovative, the strongest, 
some of the schools with the best teachers and students and success 
rates as any charter schools in America. I know that she is very proud 
of those charter schools.
  So what is the future of charter schools? What do we need to 
concentrate on to make sure that these charter schools remain viable 
choices for parents, teachers, and students?
  One obstacle for charter schools is to overcome the difficulties and 
problems of start-up costs. They need to get in a building, and 
oftentimes procuring that building is the single biggest impediment to 
starting that charter school. We need to provide Federal resources, 
maybe matching with bonds and other State incentives, to help start 
these charter schools.
  Secondly, we need to share best practices. If there are some good 
charter schools in one State, we need to find ways to share those best 
practices, those successful schools with other charter movements in 
other States, and strengthen the accountability, because these schools 
need to be held accountable. If they are not working, they can be 
closed. We need to make sure that the State laws are good charter 
school laws.
  Thirdly, we need to look at the per-pupil expenditures so that they 
are equal to other public schools. We are talking about public charter 
schools and other public schools, so let us make sure that these 
students get equal access, whether they go to a public charter school 
or a previous public school.
  So I am very excited about this movement that is catching fire across 
this country. I am very excited about the New Democrats' support for 
this back 5 and 6 and 7 years ago when it was a new idea. I am very 
supportive in a bipartisan way of working with the Republicans and the 
administration to find new ways to support the growth of charter 
schools, as I have outlined, in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H. Con. Res. 386, 
recognizing the charter school movement for its contribution to 
improving our Nation's public schools.
  Charter schools are independent public schools that are created by 
parents and teachers and operated with exemptions from most State laws 
and regulations. In just 10 years, the charter school movement has 
grown to over 2,400 schools enrolling 580,000 students in 34 States, 
the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. These schools provide new 
choices for parents of public schoolchildren and they serve as 
laboratories for innovative educational practices that improve student 
achievement.
  In my State of Delaware, the first charter school located in 
Wilmington opened in 1996. Unlike other schools, Wilmington Charter 
School focused its curriculum on math and science and it has achieved 
top scores in the Delaware assessments in math, reading, writing and 
science. Like many charter schools, Wilmington Charter School boasts 
high parental involvement, excellent student behavior, and state-of-
the-art technology in every classroom. Unlike many traditional public 
schools, however, charter schools are subject to an unprecedented level 
of accountability. They have detailed written performance contracts, 
and where they are unable to meet the terms of the contracts, the 
schools are closed.
  Recently citing financial instability, the Delaware Department of 
Education took a first step toward the revocation of the charter of a 
charter school in my

[[Page H1727]]

State. Many parents and students waged a heroic battle to keep the 
school doors open, attempting to fund the school with bake sales and 
auctions, and many are still reeling from the decision. Despite this 
setback, many Delaware charter schools continue to have more 
applications for admissions than they can currently accommodate. In my 
mind, this reinforces the need for alternative public education in 
Delaware.
  Combined with high parent satisfaction and improved academic 
achievement, the strong support for Delaware charter schools has caused 
many school officials to acknowledge some of the failures of our 
traditional public schools, and they tell me it compels them to 
improve. With this week being National Charter Schools Week, April 29 
to May 3, it is therefore fitting that we recognize our Nation's 
charter schools as another way to improve student achievement and 
increase parental involvement.
  In conclusion, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Keller) for his leadership on this issue, and I urge an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), my classmate.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman for yielding me 
this time, and I appreciate all of his work on this issue. He has been 
one of the movers and shakers for charter schools in this Congress. 
This is only one of the reasons I am in mourning that he is leaving the 
Congress. I want to thank the author of the resolution, H. Con. Res. 
386, as well.
  Mr. Speaker, the District of Columbia, our Nation's Capital, is 
supporting charter schools in a way that counts with the largest number 
of charter schools per capita in the United States. Fourteen percent of 
our youngsters go to charter schools, more than in any other State. We 
have 2 chartering authorities, including one that was authorized by 
this Congress pursuant to a bill I sponsored in 1995 with the agreement 
of the District of Columbia. All of our charter schools are public, 
nonsectarian schools. There are 13 elementary schools, 11 middle 
schools, and 16 high schools. I want to draw attention to one in 
particular, the Seed School, which is the first inner city charter 
boarder school in the United States. Yes, that is right. A boarding 
school of 14 children in a classroom, and it has attracted all kinds of 
private funds. We can imagine how surrounding these children with what 
such a school has to offer, what it means in terms of their career 
opportunities and their ability to get into top-flight schools.
  We think our charter school movement here is a model for how to 
promote competition to the traditional public schools. This House may 
recall that there was fierce opposition in the District which this 
Congress tried to impose on the District vouchers, fierce opposition, 
rage, and yet the District has embraced charter schools like its second 
skin. They have proven to be better than vouchers because they are far 
less controversial and have a far greater variety of schools than we 
could ever have gotten with vouchers.
  These schools are very independent. They are not tied to the 
bureaucracy of the public schools of the District of Columbia at all.
  For those who say that the public schools need competition, they are 
right. Boy, have they been competition for our public schools. I think 
they have made our public schools better. The scores in the public 
schools are better than the scores in the charter schools, but at the 
very bottom, the very bottom, the charter schools are doing better, and 
that may be because of the teacher-student ratio, because there are a 
smaller number of students in those schools.

                              {time}  1745

  The competition is good, but it has been publicly accountable 
competition.
  What the charter schools and the public schools do is really enable 
us to compare schools that are apples and apples, because there is an 
even playing field here. Both of them get public money; both of them 
must take every student; none of them can cream off the top; none of 
them can discriminate based on where they come from or what their 
parents are or what the test scores are; and they all have the same 
health, safety, financial, and reporting regulations.
  So we are probably going to be the first jurisdiction with a critical 
mass that is able to compare how students do in charter schools with 
how students do in traditional public schools.
  In some jurisdictions, I want to caution the Congress that charter 
schools have become more controversial. They are seen less as 
competition and more as a distraction. I regret that. That has not yet 
happened in the District of Columbia.
  But caution has to be taken to make sure that where a critical mass 
of money is necessary to run a public school system, that that remains 
intact, and that the number of charter schools relative to the number 
of traditional public schools remains in some kind of balance, and 
people do not go off chartering, catch-as-catch-can, charter schools.
  In any case, the District, its parents, its students, are embracing 
charter schools. What is happening in the District of Columbia, in the 
Nation's capital, there is a real, live, thriving charter school 
movement helping to improve educational opportunity by providing a 
variety of public school vehicles from which our public school 
children, indeed any child in the District of Columbia, can choose.
  I urge Members to look at this model to see what it may have to offer 
for their own jurisdiction. I thank the gentleman for his work on this 
issue.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri)
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak in support of this 
resolution, as it once again recognizes the charter school movement for 
its contribution to improving America's schools.
  Although Congress has been supporting the growth of charter schools 
for almost 10 years now, we should remember that this is, in fact, a 
grassroots movement. The movement was really started in the early 1990s 
by concerned parents and frustrated teachers who were fed up with the 
status quo, weary of fighting the bureaucracy that defeats innovation, 
and tired of seeing their children consigned to mediocrity and to 
failure.
  In my State of Wisconsin, I am proud to say that we have a strong 
charter school program that was one of the first in the Nation to be 
established. I recently participated in the charter school conference 
held near my district. I was excited to learn of the innovation going 
on in my State.
  For example, Wisconsin will soon have two virtual charter schools, 
which are public charter schools that conduct classes online. Thanks to 
Wisconsin's open enrollment law, children from anywhere in the State 
can apply to enroll in these schools. These virtual charter schools 
will provide a computer and Internet access to the enrolled children.
  In these virtual schools, the parents have great control, and the 
parents make final decisions as to their child's personalized learning 
plan while still having full access to professionally-prepared 
curriculum and teacher support. Thus, this approach utilizes the 
advantages of home schooling, charters, and public school choice to 
create a unique educational experience.
  I would like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Keller) for bringing forward this resolution. I appreciate the 
opportunity to speak in its support, and I urge my colleagues to 
support a National Charter Schools Week, and to continue to encourage 
the growth of this important and successful reform movement.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), chairman of the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, in honor of National Charter Schools Week, 
I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 386 introduced 
by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller), 
also a member of our committee.
  This week-long celebration, which runs through Friday, is cosponsored 
by more than 75 grassroots charter school support organizations in 45 
States, and is coordinated by the Charter Friends National Network and 
the Center for Education Reform.

[[Page H1728]]

  Also during this week there will be six charter school nights at 
major league baseball games in Colorado and in California. In addition, 
other national organizations have signed on as national supporting 
organizations for National Charter Schools Week, including the National 
Council of La Raza, the National Cooperative Bank Development 
Corporation, the Gates-EdVisions Project, and Youthbuild USA.
  Although a relatively new phenomenon, charter schools have been at 
the cutting edge of educational reform for the past several years. 
Nowhere is this more true than in Dayton, Ohio, a new part of my 
district, the site of one of the fastest growing charter school 
movements in the Nation.
  In Dayton, more than a dozen charter schools are up and running, 
serving thousands of area children. In Dayton and across the Nation, 
the contributions of charter schools are helping to strengthen our 
Nation's public schools. They are playing a key role in the effort to 
raise expectations and ensure that every child of every income and 
ethnic background has the chance for a safe and world-class education.
  There are not many things that I and the editors of the Dayton Daily 
News agree on usually, but they were right on this one earlier this 
month when they wrote, and I will quote, ``Charter schools deserve a 
chance. They can serve as models for public schools, and the 
competition they provide is a good thing.''
  In exchange for flexibility and freedom from regulations, charter 
schools are held accountable for improving the academic achievement of 
their students. This new-found flexibility and freedom has not only 
translated into higher test scores, but also innovative practices. I 
think it has empowered parents with the ability to seek out the best 
education possible for their own children.
  In fact, we mirror these same principles of freedom, flexibility, and 
accountability through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 
H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act, which the President signed into 
law earlier this year.
  Currently, 37 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have 
passed charter school laws, and more than a half a million students 
attend charter schools somewhere nationwide. My hope is that every 
State will have passed a charter school law in the very near future.
  That said, Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate all of the 
students, parents, teachers, principals, and administrators who have 
embraced the charter school movement and are working to make it a 
success.
  I would also like to recognize the efforts of two Ohio officials, 
State auditor Jim Petro and State Representative Jon Husted of Dayton, 
who have worked tirelessly on behalf of our State's charter schools.
  Finally, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller), the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Upton), and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) for their efforts 
in bringing this resolution to the floor.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Isakson).
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Delaware for 
yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of this resolution. I 
commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) for introducing it, 
because it recognizes an important principle: We in government know 
that regulation, with the best of intentions, is not always successful.
  The charter school movement recognizes that empowerment of parents, 
teachers, and the children is almost always successful. That is the 
basic principle of the charter school movement. It engages the parents 
in setting the goals, it engages the faculty with the parents in 
setting the goals, and it asks for regulation waivers in return for the 
accountability for achievement and higher standards.
  In my district in Georgia, the first charter school in our State was 
approved, and it has subsequently been reapproved. The results are 
remarkable. The parents are proud, the kids are engaged, and the 
faculty is a part of the decision-making process, the change, and the 
reform that has made the school movement a success.
  So I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller), I commend those 
parents, as the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) has said, and I 
commend those around the country that are trying to help public schools 
with that key process of parental involvement and teacher involvement 
in higher goals and better achievement.
  Lastly, I want to add a comment. At our recess a few weeks ago, I 
traveled with USAID to Egypt and Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, I observed a 
program known as BESO, sponsored by Save the Children, CARE, World 
Learning, and USAID. It is a program that engaged, due to the 
following: It is basic educational structural overhaul. The result is, 
it is charter schools.
  There in Ethiopia, where we have problems with AIDS, problems with 
Muslim children being able to go to school, problems with economic 
development because of poor job training, we are bringing in parents, 
most of whom never had an education, to be part of the school with 
their children and the teachers to set goals.
  We saw children in the worst of impoverished situations achieving 
higher goals because their parents were involved, their government 
supported change, and because teachers, parents, and students were 
partners together.
  The resolution of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) is a good 
one. The charter school movement is a tremendous asset to public 
education. I commend the gentleman from Florida for its introduction. I 
support the resolution.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht).
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time 
to me. I rise in strong support of this important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation's charter schools have been a great boon to 
America's education system. My great State of Minnesota enjoys being at 
the forefront of many movements. Charter schools are no exception. St. 
Paul Academy in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Bluffview Montessori School in 
Winona, Minnesota, are America's first charter schools. These schools 
received their charters back in 1993.
  Charter schools provide an innovative curriculum. Students are able 
to explore specific interests in a unique environment. Charter schools 
address the special needs of students who may not otherwise prosper in 
traditional public education systems.
  Minnesota features charter schools that specifically address the 
needs of Hmong and Native American students.
  A new agricultural charter school just opened in the Twin Cities. 
This is an excellent opportunity for urban students to expand their 
knowledge. Too many adults do not know enough about how food is 
produced. Charter schools are providing the innovative solutions to 
that gap of understanding.
  As a component of public education, charter schools are a testing 
ground for education delivery systems, and they are proving very 
successful. With an enrollment of 175 students, Bluffview continues to 
prosper. Their students, with the guidance of 15 teachers, have 
consistently scored higher than national and State averages on 
standardized tests.
  Charter schools provide a creative answer to the question of parental 
involvement, flexibility and accountability in the public school 
system, higher standards, and oversight by a sponsoring public district 
maintain quality and continuity in each school.
  In the case of parental involvement, I want to tell Members about 
Sandy Bauer. Her children have already graduated from Bluffview. Her 
experience as a parent was so positive that she continues to be a 
volunteer. That is commitment. Her actions tell me that Bluffview is 
doing something right.
  Accountability is best demonstrated by the creation of a charter 
document. This document specifically outlines the goals for 
achievement. I firmly believe in planning your work and working your 
plan. Charter schools, by their very nature, must meet the goals of 
their charter or they lose that charter.
  I am proud to celebrate National Charter Schools Week. I 
wholeheartedly commend the charter schools, the movement, the charter 
school teachers, the parents, and the

[[Page H1729]]

students for their ongoing contributions to education. They are leading 
our country to a brighter future for all students, and I am happy to 
cosponsor this important resolution.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I conclude by stating my very strong support for this 
resolution. I want to thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) 
for his support on this bipartisan resolution today, as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Keller) for his sponsorship of this, and the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Roemer).
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. 
Res. 386.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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