[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 136 (Wednesday, September 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         EMPOWERING PARENTS THROUGH QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2218) to 
     amend the charter school program under the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965:

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, I voted in favor of House Resolution 2218, 
the Empowering Parents Through Quality Charter Schools Act. While I 
support most of the legislation, I have a few concerns which I would 
like to highlight.
  I welcome the additional accountability requirements and the 
increased access measures incorporated into this legislation, as well 
as the specific encouragement for public charter schools and 
traditional public schools to share best practices. However, I am 
worried about the authority given to the Secretary to dispense charter 
planning grant money. We have often seen this discretionary authority 
used to coerce school districts or states into adopting policies that 
do not fit within the state's education framework.
  While I appreciate the bipartisan nature of this legislation, and the 
important advances it makes for accountability and access issues, I 
hope that the discretionary authority given to the Secretary is used 
judiciously.

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