[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E931]]
   CONGRATULATING CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR THEIR ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
                               EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 1, 2007

  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize the Pembroke Pines Charter School as we consider H. Res. 344, 
a bill congratulating Charter Schools.
  Forty states and the District of Columbia have charter schools, 
totaling nearly 4,000 schools nationally. Enrollment is approximately 
one million students or about 2 percent of the Nation's elementary, 
middle and high school enrollment. Over one-half of all charter schools 
are in Florida, Arizona, California, Ohio and Texas.
  The City of Pembroke Pines Charter School is the only city-sponsored 
charter school in Florida. Madam Speaker, the Pembroke Pines Charter 
School, located in my district, is comprised of seven schools ranging 
from K-12 grades with a total enrollment of nearly 5,400 students. The 
school is so successful that there is a waiting list of 9,000 students 
desiring to attend the Pembroke Pines Charter Schools.
  The Pembroke Pines Charter High School has recently been rated as one 
of the top two high schools in Broward County, with 93 percent of all 
Pembroke Pines charter school high school graduates attending college.
  The Pembroke Pines Charter Schools were among those nominated to the 
Center for Education Reform to compete for the honor of being named one 
of the top charter schools in the Nation. Out of 4,000 charter schools 
nationwide, 52 charter schools received this acknowledgement of 
distinction.
  Madam Speaker, two of these top charter schools are part of the 
Pembroke Pines Charter School System. Ms. Devarn Flowers, Principal of 
the West Campuses, and other city and school officials will attend a 
special recognition program at The Center for Education Reform in 
Washington, DC on May 15, 2007 to receive the ``top schools'' 
recognition for The Pembroke Pines Charter Schools.
  I commend Ms. Devarn Flowers, the teachers, the administrators and 
especially the students of Pembroke Pines Charter Schools for their 
hard work. On the occasion of National Charter Schools week, I am 
enthusiastically supporting this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 344.

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