[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 1, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4230-H4232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR THEIR ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
                               EDUCATION

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 344) congratulating charter 
schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrars across 
the United States for their ongoing contributions to education, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 344

       Whereas charter schools deliver high-quality education and 
     challenge our students to reach their potential;

[[Page H4231]]

       Whereas charter schools provide thousands of families with 
     diverse and innovative educational options for their 
     children;
       Whereas charter schools are public schools authorized by a 
     designated public entity that are responding to the needs of 
     our communities, families, and students and promoting 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 40 States and the District of Columbia have passed 
     laws authorizing charter schools;
       Whereas charter schools improve their students' achievement 
     and stimulate improvement in traditional public schools;
       Whereas charter schools must meet the student achievement 
     accountability requirements under 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, routinely measure parental satisfaction 
     levels, and must prove their ongoing success to parents, 
     policymakers, and their communities;
       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, Congress, State Governors 
     and legislatures, educators, and parents across the United 
     States; and
       Whereas the eighth annual National Charter Schools Week, to 
     be held April 29 through May 5, 2007, 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 the House of Representatives--
       (1) 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) supports the eighth annual National Charter Schools 
     Week; and
       (3) joins the President in calling on the people of the 
     United States to conduct appropriate programs, ceremonies, 
     and activities to demonstrate support for charter schools 
     during this weeklong celebration in communities throughout 
     the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. McCarthy) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Platts) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative 
days during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 344 
into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  (Mrs. McCARTHY of New York asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Mr. 
Boustany for introducing this resolution to honor National Charter 
School Week. He has been the sponsor of this resolution for the past 3 
years, and we appreciate his leadership on this issue.
  Charter schools across the country are marking this occasion by 
opening their doors to the community and inviting them to learn about 
the role of charter schools in public education. With over 3,600 
charter schools educating nearly 1.1 million children, charter schools 
have changed the landscape of public education. Almost 250 schools are 
created each year. Committed parents and students and community leaders 
have led the way, creating charter schools to meet the needs of the 
local community.
  Charter schools are free from regulations but not accountability. 
There are model charter schools that are producing good outcomes for 
their students. The public school system in this country continues to 
generate innovative strategies for educating all children. Quality 
charter schools represent one model for this innovation.
  On the occasion of National Charter School Week, I want to commend 
the 90,000 public schools in this country that are working hard to 
provide opportunity for children across the country. I urge my 
colleagues to support our Nation's charter schools and to vote for this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
friend and colleague from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany).
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania 
for yielding time to me.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 344, 
congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, 
and administrars across the United States for their ongoing 
contributions to educational excellence.
  Charter schools are public schools that are created by teachers, 
parents, and other members of the community as innovative means to 
educate students and to stimulate reform in the public school system. 
As public schools, they must serve students from all backgrounds and 
educational abilities.
  In exchange for greater accountability for student achievements, 
these schools are exempt from many local and State regulations. 
Grassroots support for charter schools continues to grow, from one 
school in the 1992-1993 school year, to over 4,000 schools serving over 
1 million students in the 2006-2007 school year.

                              {time}  1415

  The demand is simply remarkable. The charter model itself is playing 
a critical role in these schools' success. Its flexibility and 
accountability are allowing individuals with nontraditional backgrounds 
and relentless attitudes to create high achievement cultures. These 
charter schools are setting new standards about what's possible and 
about what we should expect from all our public schools. Indeed, 
charter schools are shattering low expectations and breaking through 
long standing barriers that have prevented large numbers of at-risk 
students from achieving educational success.
  Charter schools are usually among the top performers in big city 
school districts and often rival the highest performing schools in 
surrounding suburban districts. These high performers are setting 
important examples about what public schools can achieve with 
disadvantaged students.
  More and more data indicates that charter schools deliver promising 
results for student achievement. In an analysis of almost three dozen 
charter school studies, a vast majority found that overall gains in 
charter schools were larger than in other public schools, sometimes in 
certain significant categories of schools such as elementary schools, 
high schools or schools serving at risk students.
  Yet, even with these outstanding results, of the 40 States that have 
passed charter school laws, 25 States and the District of Columbia have 
some type of legislative cap on charter school growth. These caps serve 
as blunt instruments that do not lead to high quality schools. Instead 
of stifling growth, States should focus on providing the resources, 
oversight and accountability that helps charter schools thrive.
  We know what produces high quality charter schools--dedicated 
students, parents, teachers and principals, rigorous approval 
processes, conscientious oversight and sufficient resources, including 
facilities funding. We should work to replicate these models of best 
practices and apply them to local school districts throughout the 
country.
  It is my hope that the charter community will continue to build on 
its 15-year history of providing a high quality option in public 
education that is based on innovation, freedom from red tape, and 
partnership between parents and educators, an option that is giving new 
hope to disadvantaged and minority families across the country.
  I also appreciate the contribution charter schools have made in 
ongoing efforts to rebuild and strengthen my home State of Louisiana 
after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, particularly in New Orleans.
  For these reasons, it is my honor to congratulate charter schools and 
their students, parents, teachers and administrars across the United 
States for their ongoing contributions to education, as well as 
recognizing this week as National Charter School Week. I commend 
President Bush for his recent

[[Page H4232]]

proclamation, ``recognizing the important contributions of charter 
schools,'' as well as my good friends and colleagues, Mr. Platts and 
Mrs. McCarthy for bringing this resolution to the floor.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 
minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Mr. Chris 
Murphy.
  Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from 
New York and the gentlemen from Pennsylvania and Louisiana for bringing 
this resolution before us.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution to 
recognize the contributions of charter schools to education. So often 
we talk about the crisis of America's schools and our educational 
system, but it's equally important to take some time to recognize the 
good that's being done. That's why I welcome this opportunity to 
acknowledge the impact that charter schools are making in our education 
system nationally.
  In congratulating charter schools, I want to also acknowledge the 
work of all of our administrators and our educators in our public 
school system and our public charter school system as well. Noncharter 
public schools remain the bedrock of our educational system, and we 
need to make sure that we are doing everything here in Congress and at 
our State level to make sure that our public schools have the 
opportunity to succeed.
  But charter schools are growing because, when done right, they're 
working. They represent a network of committed and innovative 
administrators, teachers and parents whose great determination and 
resolve complement the public education system. This national network 
of 4,000 charter schools infuses hope and possibility into communities. 
In Connecticut alone, there are 16 charter schools educating over 2,500 
students.
  Charter schools are infused with an imagination. Moreover, these 
schools are effectively engaging students around innovative and 
aggressive curriculum. They are setting the bar high and they are 
getting results. As we consider solutions for improving math and 
science education and increasing the number of high school graduates 
and students matriculating to colleges and university, we should 
remember the contributions that charter schools are making to the 
education of our Nation's children.
  Again, Madam Speaker, I commend the tremendous dedication of all 
educators. Their unsung sacrifices are critical to ensuring the success 
of America's youth today and the skill of tomorrow's workforce.
  I urge all Members to support this resolution.
  Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support House Resolution 
344, congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, 
teachers and administrators across the United States for their ongoing 
contributions to education.
  Charter schools are innovative public schools with a simple interest 
in providing a quality education to children in their communities. They 
explore new educational approaches, such as longer school days or 
extended school years, and are free from most rules and regulations 
governing conventional public schools.
  These schools meet the student achievement and accountability 
requirements under No Child Left Behind in the same manner as 
traditional public schools and they often set higher individual goals 
to ensure that they are of high quality.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues from New York, 
Louisiana, Connecticut, elsewhere around the country in recognizing 
these innovative public schools, and I am proud to recognize this week 
as National Charter Schools Week.
  I commend President Bush for his recent proclamation stating, quote, 
``recognizing the important contributions of charter schools,'' as well 
on the executive branch side; and again urge a ``yes'' vote for this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, again, I would like to 
thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) for introducing this 
legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 344.
  As you can tell, today we have been talking about the children of 
this Nation on so many of our different issues. And again, I am very 
happy to work with my colleague on the committee, Mr. Platts from 
Pennsylvania.
  When we talk about our children and the future of the Nation, 
obviously, education is the most important thing. So, again, it has 
been a pleasure introducing these resolutions.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, as we celebrate charter schools 
I want to recognize the Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) 
operating in my Congressional District. The Youth Connection Charter 
School (YCCS) has a unique mission and purpose. It has been said that 
education is the great equalizer--it is the key to success.
  The mission of YCCS is to provide individuals who have dropped out of 
school an opportunity--to drop back in and receive a quality education. 
Since its creation in 1997, YCCS has graduated more than 5,700 students 
who had previously dropped out of traditional high schools. Just think, 
what would have happened to those students if YCCS was not available to 
them. They likely would have become another statistic.
  Clearly, the data shows that students who drop out are more likely to 
be unemployed. In fact, the unemployment rate nationally for high 
school drop-outs was 29.8 percent in 200. (Dept. of Labor). We know 
that students who drop out are more likely to be candidates for 
prisons. A total of 75 percent of America's state prison inmates are 
high shool drop-outs, with only 59 percent of America's federal prison 
inmates completing high school (Harlow, 2003). We also know that high 
school drop-outs are more likely to be receiving public assistance and 
living in poverty. These negative consequences lead to the destruction 
of a community and country. Students who drop out are less likely to be 
married or see a doctor on a regular basis. The benefits of a high 
school education move society forward economically and socially. A 
person with a high school diploma is more likely to be employed, live 
longer, and become a productive part of society.
  The impact of YCCS and its involvement as the only charter school in 
Illinois providing alternative educational services focused primarily 
on drop-outs can be seen throughout education. In 2005, YCCS placed in 
the upper third for school performance in reading by CPS in comparison 
to all of the other 76 high schools in the city of Chlcago.
  Conversely, we know that a quality education opens the doors of 
opportunity and provides hope for a brighter future. An investment in 
the education of young people who have dropped out of school saves our 
city and state taxpayers' money. The Alliance for Excellent Education 
reports that a 1 percent increase in high school gradution rates would 
save approximately $1.4 billion in incarceration costs yearly. 
Additionally, a 1-year incease in average education levels would reduce 
arrest rates by 11 percent.
  I am pleased to honor the outstanding work of the Youth Connection 
Charter School.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 344.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________