[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 62 (Thursday, May 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR THEIR ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
                               EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2004

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
continued success of our Nation's charter schools. I am extremely proud 
of the several Charter schools that reside in my district. Many may not 
fully understand the difference between a regular public school and a 
Charter school. In Chicago, the Charter schools are public schools, 
open to all children who reside in Chicago without academic admissions 
criteria. Each charter school has a unique mission and is operated by 
community organizations, universities, foundations and school teachers. 
While charter schools are funded by the Board of Education, they are 
not required to follow many board regulations. For example, they are 
free to set their own policies for curriculum, school hours and 
discipline. But charter schools are held accountable for high student 
academic achievement by the Board of Education
  I would like to acknowledge and congratulate some of the great 
charter schools in my district:
  The first arts-focused charter school in Chicago, the Charter School 
of the Chicago Children's Choir (CSCCC), integrate music throughout its 
interdisciplinary academic curriculum. Learning is project-oriented and 
emphasizes creativity. Students are able to sing in as many as 17 
different languages. The late Rev. Christopher Moore founded the choir 
in 1956 with ``a dream that young people from diverse backgrounds could 
better understand each other, as well as learn about themselves, by 
learning to make beautiful music together.'' The choir that Moore 
started with a handful of kids in the First Unitarian Church of Chicago 
on the South Side has grown into a downtown-based, city-wide program 
that brings together nearly 3,000 children each year. Its groups have 
performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera, at the 
White House, and around the world.
  In 2000, community leaders working to improve educational 
opportunities in the West Side neighborhood of Lawndale created 
L.E.A.R.N., Lawndale Educational and Regional Network. They applied for 
a charter school and hired Nancy Dearhammer, an experienced charter 
school leader, to plan the curriculum and become executive director. 
L.E.A.R.N. will emphasize high academic standards through a 10:1 
student-teacher ratio, a rigorous curriculum, year-round classes and 
parent involvement. L.E.A.R.N.'s year-round schedule is unusual: 9 
weeks on followed by 2 weeks off, giving students a safe, positive 
environment all year. Parent involvement is key in the mission of the 
school with monthly parent teacher conversations, bimonthly parental 
satisfaction surveys, and strong encouragement to volunteer at the 
school to keep parents involved. L.E.A.R.N. is also fundraising to 
offer pre-school, adult education and community health services to 
Lawndale families.
  A strong work ethic and solid commitment to education are the 
cornerstones of success at North Lawndale College Prep and the only 
requirements for admission. A rigorous community school for 350 
students on Chicago's west side, North Lawndale Prep graduated its 
first class in June 2002. It is dedicated to developing, as opposed to 
merely recruiting, college-ready students from impoverished city 
neighborhoods. With high expectations, every student is expected to 
complete four years of English, social studies, and math, three years 
of science, and two years of foreign language. There are extra courses 
in reading for freshmen, writing for sophomores, and oral expression 
for juniors. At every level, students are expected to produce their 
best work consistently. In addition to athletics and after-school 
activities, North Lawndale Prep offers students a wide array of summer 
programs. These include outdoor adventure programs, an extensive 
orientation for freshmen, internships at Chicago businesses, and 
attendance at prestigious prep school and college summer programs. The 
summer programs expand the horizons of North Lawndale Prep students and 
prepare them for the challenges of college.

  As demonstrated in these three examples, Charter schools provide 
excellence in education by delivering high-quality education and 
challenging our students to reach their potential. Charter schools have 
brought hope and the idea of success back to many poor, disadvantaged 
areas that felt abandoned by the education system. I commend the 
students for their hard work, dedication and success, the teachers for 
their love of education and commitment to the school and the students, 
and all parents for playing an active role in their child's education 
and more importantly their lives by letting that child know that you 
care and are interested in what they do every day.

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