[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S5401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 183--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL 
       CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK, APRIL 30, 2007, THROUGH MAY 4, 2007

  Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Carper, 
Mr. Burr, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Vitter, Mrs. Dole, and Mr. Gregg) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 183

       Whereas charter schools deliver high-quality education and 
     challenge students to reach their potential;
       Whereas charter schools provide thousands of families with 
     diverse and innovative educational options for their 
     children;
       Whereas charter schools are public schools authorized by 
     designated public entities to respond to the needs of 
     communities, families, and students, and to promote the 
     principles of quality, choice, and innovation;
       Whereas, in exchange for the flexibility and autonomy given 
     to charter schools, charter schools are held accountable by 
     their sponsors for improving student achievement and for 
     their finances and other operations;
       Whereas 40 States and the District of Columbia have passed 
     laws authorizing charter schools;
       Whereas more than 4,000 charter schools operating across 
     the United States serve more than 1,140,000 students;
       Whereas, over the last 13 years, Congress has provided more 
     than $2,026,225,000 in support to the charter school movement 
     by providing facilities, financing assistance, and grants for 
     planning, startup, implementation, and dissemination of 
     information;
       Whereas many charter schools improve the achievement of 
     students and stimulate improvement in traditional public 
     schools;
       Whereas charter schools must meet the student achievement 
     accountability requirements under section 1111 of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     6311) in the same manner as traditional public schools, and 
     often set higher and additional individual goals to ensure 
     that charter schools are of high quality and truly 
     accountable to the public;
       Whereas charter schools give parents new freedom to choose 
     public schools, routinely measure parental satisfaction 
     levels, and must prove their ongoing success to parents, 
     policymakers, and communities;
       Whereas nearly 56 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 1,100 average-sized 
     charter schools;
       Whereas charter schools nationwide serve a higher 
     percentage of low-income and minority students than the 
     traditional public school system;
       Whereas charter schools have enjoyed broad bipartisan 
     support from the President, 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 30 through May 4, 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 Senate--
       (1) acknowledges and commends charter schools and students, 
     parents, teachers, and administrators of charter schools 
     across the United States for their ongoing contributions to 
     education and improving and strengthening the public school 
     system;
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of the eighth annual 
     National Charter Schools Week; and
       (3) encourages 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.

                          ____________________