[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 4, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H2505-H2509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR THEIR ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
                               EDUCATION

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 600) congratulating charter schools and their 
students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the United 
States for their ongoing contribution to education, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 600

       Whereas charter schools deliver high-quality education and 
     challenge our students to reach their potential;
       Whereas charter schools provide thousands of our families 
     with diverse and innovative educational options for their 
     children;
       Whereas charter schools are public schools authorized by a 
     designated public entity and are responding to the needs of 
     our communities, families, and students and promote

[[Page H2506]]

     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 41 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have passed laws authorizing 
     charter schools;
       Whereas nearly 3,000 charter schools are now operating in 
     37 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of 
     Puerto Rico and serving 750,000 students;
       Whereas over the last 10 years, Congress has provided more 
     than $1,000,000,000 in support to the charter school movement 
     through facilities financing assistance and grants for 
     planning, startup, implementation, and dissemination;
       Whereas charter schools improve their students' achievement 
     and stimulate improvement in traditional public schools;
       Whereas charter schools must meet the student achievement 
     accountability requirements included by the No Child Left 
     Behind Act of 2001, and contained in 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 give parents new freedom to choose 
     their public school, charter schools routinely measure 
     parental satisfaction levels, and charter schools must prove 
     their ongoing success to parents, policymakers, and their 
     communities;
       Whereas nearly 40 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 1,000 average-sized 
     charter schools;
       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, the Congress, State 
     Governors and legislatures, educators, and parents across the 
     United States; and
       Whereas the fifth annual National Charter Schools Week, to 
     be held May 3 to 7, 2004, 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--
       (1) the House of Representatives 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;
       (2) the House of Representatives supports the fifth annual 
     National Charter Schools Week; and
       (3) it is the sense of the House of Representatives 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 during this week long celebration in communities 
     throughout the United States.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Porter) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 600.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 600, a resolution 
congratulating charter schools across the United States and their 
students, parents, teachers and administrators of such schools for 
their ongoing contributions to education.
  Charter schools represent a grand experiment which relies upon 
innovation and creativity found within American society. Since charter 
schools are often small and independent, they are able to focus on new 
approaches for teaching and preparing students for their place in our 
rapidly changing world. Charter schools often deliver high-quality 
education and challenge students to reach their potential. Charter 
schools can be vehicles for improving student achievement and for 
stimulating change in all educational settings including public 
schools.
  Almost 2,700 charter schools serve students across the Nation, and 
these schools are found in 41 States, Puerto Rico and the District of 
Columbia. In Michigan, there are over 210 operational charter schools 
and even more approved to open during the 2004-2005 school year.
  I would especially like to commend one innovative and entrepreneurial 
charter school pioneer in my district, Mr. J.C. Huizenga. He founded 
National Heritage Academies in 1995 with a vision to create a network 
of K-8 schools that offer a common-sense approach to education. The 
cornerstones of this approach include rigorous academics, a strong 
virtue-based character development program, active parental 
involvement, and a high degree of accountability.
  Mr. Huizenga and his National Heritage Academies operate 39 schools 
in 5 States and serve nearly 21,000 students.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting and congratulating 
charter schools.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take a few moments to respond to 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) regarding the extraneous comments he 
inserted in the debate on the previous measure. He commented that the 
legislature in Ohio and others there agree that No Child Left Behind is 
underfunded.
  Mr. Speaker, I served in the Michigan legislature for 11 years. 
During all that time, I never met any legislator who ever felt that the 
Federal Government was properly funding or overfunding anything.

                              {time}  1445

  It is the character of State legislators and State legislatures to 
believe that the Federal Government should be sending them more money. 
That simple statement about the Ohio legislature is no indication 
whatsoever of the truth of the situation.
  The truth is that Federal funding for education has more than doubled 
over the past 8 years. The truth is that if we look at the charts of 
the funding under No Child Left Behind of this Congress and compare it 
with the funding under the previous program, we are doing extremely 
well. It is almost an exponential increase compared to the relatively 
flat funding prior to that.
  Similarly for IDEA funding; if we look at the history of that, IDEA 
funding was struggling along at a few billion dollars per year for a 
number of years. Since the Republicans took over, we have quadrupled 
the amount of funding for IDEA to $10 billion in fiscal year 2004.
  The facts are, the Republicans have been very generous with the 
funding of No Child Left Behind and IDEA, and attempts to say otherwise 
are simply falsifying the facts and I think are for political purposes 
and should not have been inserted in the discussion of the military 
schools debate.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  The gentleman from Michigan makes a valid point. We are spending more 
on education, but there are more mandates that have been placed on 
these local schools, and the money that we have given has not equaled 
the amount that is needed to fulfill the obligations that the Federal 
Government wants to impose on the local school districts and the 
States.
  I was in the State legislature, too. I know State legislators want 
more Federal money; there is no doubt about that, and I apologize to 
the gentleman from Nevada. We are getting a little off the point here, 
but my point was that here we have a Republican-controlled legislature, 
we have a Republican State for the most part controlled by Republican-
elected officials, soon to become a Democratic State in the fall, but a 
Republican State controlled, and my point is that the Department of 
Education in Ohio is not going to throw it back in the Republican 
Congress' face and criticize them unnecessarily so. So if anything, it 
was a proper analysis of the funding that was needed.
  Back to H. Res. 600. I do rise, Mr. Speaker, in support of H. Res. 
600, a resolution congratulating public charter schools for their 
ongoing contribution to our educational system.
  The first charter school opened its doors in 1992 in Minnesota; and 
since that time, the number of charter schools has grown. While they 
only educate a small portion of all children that attend public 
schools, these schools have added to the importance and purpose of our 
public school systems. The truly great aspect of our

[[Page H2507]]

country's educational system is its public schools. Whether it is 
charter schools or traditional public schools, all of our public 
schools exist to educate our Nation's children.
  America cannot succeed without a robust and successful public school 
system. Charter schools are one important part of this system.
  I do want to say that this is not a resolution of us agreeing to 
abandon the traditional public schools, abandon funding for the 
traditional public schools at both a local, State level, and at Federal 
level. This is not that resolution.
  We do want to commend all the hardworking teachers and principals and 
leaders in the schools and the kids who go to these schools as students 
who attend. They are great kids. I have had an opportunity to meet with 
them and speak with them. They are great kids who deserve all the 
respect and admiration that this body can give them.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 600. This resolution 
honors and congratulates our Nation's charter schools and the students, 
parents, teacher administrators, and other individuals involved for 
their hard work and dedication to providing a quality public education. 
This week, May 3 through May 7, has been designated National Charter 
School Week. It is during this week that charter school organizations 
and others around the United States honor these schools for their 
continued contributions to education.
  The Nation's charter schools deliver high-quality education and 
challenge students to reach their potential. Forty-one States, the 
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have passed laws authorizing 
charter schools. Since the first charter school law was passed in 1991, 
almost 3,000 charter schools now serve nearly 750,000 students in 37 
States and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
  Specifically, I am honored to mention the 14 charter schools in 
Nevada that serve nearly 3,000 students. Nevada first passed charter 
school legislation in 1997, with our first charter school opening in 
the 1998-1999 school year. The State charter school legislation was 
revised again in 1999, lending teachers more room for creativity in 
allowing charter schools the ability to offer an extended school day, 
as well as an extended school year.
  I commend the charter schools in the State of Nevada and across the 
Nation for recognizing the immense need for improved education and for 
their commitment to improving student achievement for students who 
attend these schools. At charter schools nationwide, almost half the 
students are considered at-risk or are former dropouts. Charter schools 
serve significant numbers of minority students, students with 
disabilities, and students that are from lower-income families. These 
schools give opportunity and freedom to students and parents who 
otherwise might not have had the chance to receive a quality education.
  Nearly 40 percent of charter schools report having a waiting list, 
and the total number of students on all such waiting lists is enough to 
fill another 1,000 average-size charter schools across the country. By 
allowing parents and students to choose their public school, charter 
schools can stimulate change and improvement in all public schools and 
benefit all public school students.
  In exchange for flexibility and autonomy, public charter schools are 
held accountable by their sponsors for improving student achievement 
and for their administration. Charter schools respond to the needs of 
America's communities, families, and students while promoting the 
principles of quality, choice, and innovation. Charter schools must 
meet the same No Child Left Behind student achievement accountability 
requirements as other public schools and often set higher and 
additional individual goals to ensure that they are of high quality and 
truly accountable to the public.
  Charter schools have enjoyed broad bipartisan support from the 
administration, the Congress, State Governors and legislatures, 
educators and parents across the Nation. The fifth annual National 
Charter Schools Week held this week, May 3 through May 7, recognizes 
the significant impacts, achievements, and innovations of our Nation's 
charter schools. Through this resolution, Congress today acknowledges 
and commends the charter school movement and charter schools, students, 
teachers and parents and administrators across the United States for 
their ongoing contributions to education and improving and 
strengthening our Nation's public school system.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time and for his work in bringing this bill forward and the gentleman 
on the other side as well.
  I strongly support this resolution. The first Federal bill for 
charter schools was a bill for the District of Columbia only. I worked 
with Newt Gingrich on this bill when he was Speaker and when he knew 
that the District of Columbia opposed vouchers. Instead, he worked with 
me on a charter school bill, and charter schools took off in the 
District of Columbia as they have in no other jurisdiction today.
  The District of Columbia has the largest number of charter schools. I 
could not be more proud of these schools. They are an alternative 
public school system. They are accountable to us in the same way that 
the District of Columbia public schools are.
  This morning in the other body in the Senate, a hearing was held on 
charter schools in our city as a part of the D.C. appropriation. The 
interesting thing about the voucher fight that took place just a few 
months ago is that my own constituents who came in to see me, who 
wanted vouchers, many of them said to me that the reason that they were 
supporting a voucher bill is that there was such a long line of backlog 
in the charter schools that they did not believe their children could 
get into the charter schools.
  I then begged the Congress to give any extra money it had to our 
charter schools since our council had passed a bill in favor of charter 
schools, our council was giving money to charter schools; and, instead, 
the Congress decided to make the District of Columbia the only 
jurisdiction in the United States to have vouchers imposed on it while 
the Congress itself has refused to impose private school vouchers on 
the country.
  I invite the Congress to visit the charter schools of the District of 
Columbia and come see what a public school system can do in addressing 
the need for alternatives to public schools, as I believe there are. 
There are people who oppose charter schools. I think that is an 
unacceptable position. If, in fact, the public school the child attends 
is not satisfactory to that parent, there should be a public school 
alternative for that parent. That is exactly what the District of 
Columbia has. A series of public school alternatives, side by side, are 
our public schools.
  I am proud of Arts and Technology, SEED, Friendship Edison, Cesar 
Chavez, Carlos Rosario, Tree of Life, Capital City, Howard Road, and 
KIPP to name just a few of the charter schools in the District of 
Columbia. We have almost 1,400 youngsters attending D.C. charter 
schools. The next time my colleagues want a voucher, if they come and 
see the charter schools in the District, they will get cured of that 
disease.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Nevada for the 
wonderful work that he has done on this resolution and for his support 
of charter schools. I am pleased to join him in cosponsoring this 
legislation and serving as an honorary cochairman of the National 
Charter School Week. The growth of charter schools across our country 
in recent years has allowed us to see firsthand the difference that 
these schools can make in children's lives.
  In 2002, while I was a member of the Tennessee State Senate, we 
passed legislation allowing for the creation of

[[Page H2508]]

public charter schools. That was signed into law in Tennessee that 
year. The legislation allowed for the creation of the first four public 
charter schools, which opened their doors in our State in 2003. These 
schools have had a great start, and I am looking forward to seeing the 
establishment of more charter schools in Tennessee.
  Unfortunately, some traditional schools fail to serve some students, 
and charter schools have proven to be a great alternative for many of 
these students. Fifteen different studies show that students frequently 
enter charter schools significantly below grade level and then progress 
at or above the gains being made in surrounding districts and 
demographically comparable schools or with their State averages.
  National Charter School Week is a great opportunity for us to talk 
about the success of charter schools and the success that they are 
having in meeting the needs of our children and their families and the 
success that they are having in encouraging children to become lifelong 
learners.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Green).
  Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice in supporting the 
tremendous work the charter schools are doing all across this land, and 
I want to commend the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) for the work 
he is doing to help foster the charter school movement.
  In Wisconsin, I am proud to say that movement is growing by leaps and 
bounds. My State was among the very first to enact the charter school 
law in the early 1990s; and in line with our proud tradition of local 
leadership and public education, our charter schools are flourishing.
  In fact, we have gone from one charter school in 1994 to 134 this 
year. Over 20,000 Wisconsin students are now enrolled in these charter 
schools. The Appleton School District, in my own congressional 
district, alone has nine such charter schools. That is how much we care 
about creating educational opportunities for all families.
  One of the most exciting charter schools in Wisconsin is called 
Wisconsin Connections Academy. It is quite literally a public school 
without walls. The State's virtual K-8 elementary school is enrolling 
students from all across Wisconsin.

                              {time}  1500

  The Academy's mission is to help each student maximize his or her 
potential and to meet the highest performance standards. This Academy 
is on the cutting edge of education reform, offering a uniquely 
individualized learning program that combines the best in virtual 
education with very real connections among students, families, teachers 
and the community. They have taken public education into their own 
hands, and good things are happening. They have grown from 200 students 
to 400, and they have received 800 applications for this year.
  Mr. Speaker, here in Washington, we must stand ready to help. We must 
work to remove unnecessary barriers that hold back our charter school 
innovators, and we should work to unleash the great progressive 
potential that charter schools represent. Congratulations not only to 
the Wisconsin Connections Academy, but to all charter schools across 
the country that are making a very real difference in our children's 
future.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The gentleman from Nevada (Mr. 
Porter) has the right to close.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  We support this resolution. We appreciate the gentleman's efforts on 
this. I want to make perfectly clear that we want to show our support 
and congratulate the public charter schools for their contributions to 
the system, and say what great students and kids they have, and how we 
want to support them and their families. This is not a resolution to 
abandon our traditional public schools, but to show our support for 
charter schools.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Education and 
Workforce Committee, as well as co-chair of National Charter School 
Week, I strongly support the H. Res. 600, legislation honoring the 
fifth annual National Charter Schools Week.
  Public schools are America's commitment to providing a high quality 
education for every child. I am dedicated to ensuring that all children 
have the opportunity to receive a quality education regardless of what 
public school they attend. This includes charter schools, which are 
models of successful education reform and one of the fastest growing 
education innovations working to improve our public education.
  As a National Co-Chair of Charter Schools Week, I would like to take 
a minute to celebrate the first decade of Charter Schools in the United 
States. Traditionally, charter schools are independent public schools, 
designed and operated by educators, parents, community members and 
others. Since the first charter school began operation in 1992 in St. 
Paul, Minnesota, the number of charter schools has grown to nearly 
3,000 serving 750,000 students around the country in 37 states, the 
District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  Charter schools have consistently been at the forefront of my 
priority list, and I am pleased that Wisconsin has 137 exceptional 
charter schools. In my congressional district alone, we have over 24 
charter schools presently and that number grows each year. I have 
consistently advocated for increased funding for charter schools and 
supported the Charter School Facilities Financing Demonstration Program 
during consideration of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001.
  Mr. Speaker, I recognize that charter schools give parents options 
when determining the best public school in which to enroll their 
children. Thus, we must ensure that all our students reach their 
highest academic potential, which may require attending a charter 
school that provides a model better suited towards an individual 
student's needs.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today 
to speak about the benefits of charter schools and their ability to 
deliver high-quality education and challenge our students to reach 
their potential. Charter schools provide thousands of our families with 
diverse and innovative educational options for their children.
  I recently had the pleasure to visit a charter school in my district, 
KIPP 3D Academy. KIPP stands for Knowledge is Power Program, and this 
in an innovative approach to education which has been making a 
significant impact all over the country. Charter Schools are a unique 
opportunity for students to access other methods of education, and 
after visiting with the 3D Academy students, I can see how excited they 
are for learning.
  Charter schools are public schools authorized by a designated public 
entity and are responding to the needs of our communities, families, 
and students and promote the principles of quality, choice, and 
innovation.
  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. 
During my visit to KIPP 3D Academy, I was able to see their substantial 
progress with their students, and how their strict curriculum embodied 
their slogan that Knowledge is Power.
  Nearly 3,000 charter schools are now operating in 37 States, the 
District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and serving 
750,000 students.
  Charter schools improve their students' achievement and stimulate 
improvement in traditional public schools. They also give parents new 
freedom to choose their public school, charter schools routinely 
measure parental satisfaction levels, and charter schools must prove 
their ongoing success to parents, policymakers, and their communities.
  Charter schools nationwide serve a higher percentage of low-income 
and minority students than the traditional public system. These schools 
have enjoyed broad bipartisan support from the Administration, the 
Congress, State Governors and legislatures, educators, and parents 
across the United States.
  The fifth annual National Charter Schools Week is May 3 to 7, 2004. 
This event is sponsored by charter schools and grassroots charter 
school organizations across the United States to recognize the 
significant impacts, achievements, and innovations of charter schools. 
I am pleased to join my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
acknowledge and commend 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.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 600, 
congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers,

[[Page H2509]]

and administrators across the United States for their ongoing 
contributions to education. This week is the fifth annual National 
Charter School Week and provides a great opportunity for Congress to 
recognize and honor charter schools and those involved for the role 
they play in reforming and improving our nation's public education 
system.
  Charter schools are public schools that agree to improved academic 
achievement and accountability in financial and other operations, in 
exchange for increased flexibility and independence. The greater 
autonomy allows charter schools to focus on increasing academic 
achievement in each student, rather than bureaucratic paperwork. 
Charter schools must meet all the same No Child Left Behind achievement 
goals as other public schools.
  Charter schools are adept at meeting the specific needs of the local 
community in which they are located, especially in low-income 
communities. Nationwide, almost half of charter schools serve students 
considered at-risk or who have previously dropped out of school. 
Charter school students share similar demographic characteristics with 
students in all public schools, and serve significant numbers of 
students from low income families, minority students, and students with 
disabilities.
  This being the case, charter schools allow many parents and students 
freedom of choice that otherwise would not be available, enabling them 
to improve their lives with a quality education. In addition, increased 
flexibility allows charter schools to use varied educational methods 
and techniques while still remaining accountable for results.
  Charter schools have benefited from a strong degree of bipartisan 
support from the local, state, and national levels. This is evidenced 
by the efforts of both Republicans and Democrats in Congress when they 
expanded access to charter schools through the No Child Left Behind 
legislation. In the two years since the enactment of that legislation, 
Congress and the President have provided at least $200 million dollars 
annually to assist in the financing of new charter schools and to 
provide additional aid to existing schools.
  It is important for Congress to recognize, through this resolution 
honoring National Charter Schools Week, the benefits charter schools 
and those involved have brought to our education system and to our 
nation at large. I thank my colleague from Nevada, Mr. Porter, for 
introducing this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 600. This 
resolution recognizes National Charter Schools Week and honors charter 
schools and those involved for providing a quality education to 
children from thousands of families across the United States. The fifth 
annual National Charter Schools Week is May 3 through May 7, and it is 
during this week that we make it a point to acknowledge and celebrate 
charter schools.
  With the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act, Congress built on 
the existing opportunities for families and students that charter 
schools allowed and increased both access and funding for these 
institutions. Charter schools are public schools that give families 
additional freedom. These public schools have flexibility and 
independence from certain regulations, but submit to the same or higher 
accountability requirements regarding student achievement.
  Beginning in 1991 with one school, charter schools have grown in 
prevalence in nearly every State in our nation. Currently, there are 
almost 2,700 schools serving nearly 3,000 students. In my home State of 
Delaware, we first passed a charter school law in 1995. We now have 13 
charter schools, serving over 5,000 students. Delaware charter schools 
serve students at both the elementary and secondary levels, and 
stimulate change and improvement in public schools at all levels.
  In communities of all types throughout Delaware and our nation, 
charter schools teach students using a variety of methods and 
techniques, often succeeding in situations that might appear to some to 
be less than ideal. For example, the East Side Charter School, located 
in the East Lake village of Wilmington, Delaware enrolls a student 
population in which 88 percent of the students qualify for free or 
reduced price lunch, yet produces academic results that exceed those of 
the other public schools in Delaware.
  Charter schools have enjoyed a considerable amount of bipartisan 
support from every level, including the Administration, Congress, State 
governors and legislatures, local communities, parents, and teachers. 
During National Charter School Week, it is important to demonstrate 
this support by honoring and commending charter schools, and their 
students, parents, teachers, and administrators through this resolution 
and other programs, ceremonies, and activities.
  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
National Charter Schools Institute's 2004 Colloquium taking place in 
Brighton, Michigan on May 7, 2004. The NCSI 2004 Colloquium is a 
celebration of the families, teachers, local leaders and others who 
chose charter public schools because of their proven ability to help 
our nation's school children attain academic and personal success.
  The National Charter Schools Institute has joined together with 
sponsors and supporters including the Michigan Department of Education, 
the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers, the Michigan 
Association of Public School Academies, the Black Alliance for 
Educational Options and the Programs for Educational Opportunities to 
bring this Colloquium to Brighton to benefit charter school 
representatives throughout the state of Michigan.
  Mr. Speaker, America's charter schools are our partners in our quest 
to provide a quality education to all of our children. I would like to 
ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the benefits of the 
National Charter Schools Institute 2004 colloquium to the school 
children of Michigan, and to ask them to join me in celebrating 
National Charter Schools Week.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 600, as amended.
  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. PORTER. 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.

                          ____________________