[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6835-6839]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THEIR STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, 
     AND ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR THEIR ONGOING 
                       CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 781), congratulating charter schools and their 
students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the United 
States for their ongoing contributions to education, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 781

       Whereas charter schools deliver high-quality education and 
     challenge our 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 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 over 3,600 charter schools are now operating in 40 
     States and the District of Columbia serving more than 1 
     million students;
       Whereas over the last 12 years, Congress has provided 
     nearly $1,775,000,000 in support to the charter school 
     movement through facilities financing assistance and grants 
     for planning, startup, implementation, and dissemination;
       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 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 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 seventh annual National Charter Schools Week, 
     to be held May 1 through 6, 2006, 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--
       (1) the House of Representatives 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) the House of Representatives supports the seventh 
     annual National Charter Schools Week; and
       (3) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
     the President should issue a proclamation 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 gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Porter) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada.

                              {time}  1045


                             General Leave

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to

[[Page 6836]]

revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 781.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bonner). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution honors the Nation's charter schools; the 
parents; the teachers; of course, the students; administrators; and 
other individuals involved with their hard work and dedication to run 
quality public education.
  This week, May 1 through May 7, has been designated National Charter 
Schools Week. During this week, charter school organizations and others 
around the United States recognize these schools for their continued 
contribution to education. The Nation's charter schools deliver high-
quality education and challenge students to reach their potential.
  When President Bush took office in 2001, there were only about 2,000 
charter schools nationwide, where today there are approximately 3,600 
serving over 1 million students in 40 States, including the District of 
Columbia and Puerto Rico. In Nevada, we have 18 charter schools serving 
approximately 5,000 students. I am very proud to have been involved 
with Nevada's first legislation in 1997 to introduce and to pass our 
first charter school legislation.
  We also have an example of a charter school that is nationally 
recognized, and that is the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, 
and it serves as a model for other schools across the country. It is 
designed to enhance a student's character, respect, motivation and 
self-discipline. Agassi Prep, as the school has been nicknamed, 
specifically is to improve skill levels and combat lowered academic 
expectations among the community's most challenged children. Advanced 
technology, small class size, and extended school hours are just a few 
of the practices that Agassi Prep utilizes to achieve a higher standard 
of education.
  I commend the charter schools in the State of Nevada and across this 
great Nation for recognizing the immense need for improved education 
and for their commitment to improving student achievement for students 
who attend these schools.
  Nationwide, charter schools serve a very special need. Many of the 
schools under their charter take care of kids with special needs, from 
hearing to speaking to other challenges. Even in the State of Nevada, 
we have a charter school that was designated through its charter to 
serve children from the State of California that are juvenile 
delinquents.
  Charter schools provide a great service to our communities, grade 
schools, all different levels of schools across the country, to provide 
parents, communities, leaders, business, all members of the community 
access and the ability to be involved in education.
  Nearly 56 percent of charter schools report having a waiting list, 
and the total number of students on such waiting lists is enough to 
fill another 1,000 average size charter schools across the Nation. By 
allowing parents and students to choose their public schools or charter 
schools, we can stimulate change and benefit all public school 
students.
  In exchange for flexibility and autonomy, public charter schools are 
held accountable by their sponsors for improving student achievement 
and for their administration. A charter school is just that. A charter 
school is a school with a contract of performance. If they do not 
perform, if they do not provide excellence in education, these schools 
can lose their charters.
  Charter schools must meet the same No Child Left Behind student 
achievement accountability requirements as other public schools and 
often set higher and additional individual goals to ensure that they 
are all high quality and truly accountable to the public.
  According to the Center for Education Reform, as many as 15 studies 
find that students who frequently enter charters significantly are 
below the normal grade level. These students then achieve the same or 
even higher gains as compared to their surrounding districts' 
demographically compared schools or even the State averages.
  A report from America's Charter School Finance Corporation called 
``Take Me on a Reading Adventure'' cites research from several States 
that show greater gains and/or higher scores in reading for charter 
schools as compared to their traditional school peers.
  Charter schools have enjoyed broad bipartisan support from the 
administration, Congress, State Governors and legislators, educators, 
and parents across this great Nation. The Seventh Annual National 
Charter School Week, held this week, May 1 through May 7, 2006, 
recognizes the significant impacts, achievements, and innovations of 
our Nation's charter schools. Through this resolution, Congress today 
acknowledges and commends the charter school movement and the charter 
schools' students, teachers, parents, and administrators across the 
United States for their ongoing contributions to education and 
improving and strengthening our Nation's public schools.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my good friend and colleague from Nevada for 
his support of this resolution as well as the Chair and the Ranking 
Member of the Education and the Workforce Committee. As a member of the 
House Education and the Workforce Committee and as an original 
cosponsor of H. Res. 781, I strongly support this resolution honoring 
National Charter Schools Week.
  Since the first charter school began in 1992 in St. Paul, Minnesota, 
the number of charter schools has grown to over 3,600, serving more 
than 1 million students across the country today. In Wisconsin, my home 
State, there are nearly 200 charter schools educating close to 30,000 
students; and in my congressional district in Western Wisconsin, we 
have 24 charter schools.
  Charter schools provide parents, along with their children, their 
students, another choice within the public education system.
  One school in particular that I would like to highlight during 
National Charter Schools Week is LaCrosseroads in my hometown of La 
Crosse, Wisconsin. It is an alternative high school. A specific project 
that has become part of the curriculum at this school was introduced by 
their teacher, Karen Schoenfeld; and it requires the students to record 
the oral histories of our veterans and submit their histories to the 
Library of Congress to be included in the Veterans History Project. 
Such projects are commendable and highly valuable to our students. It 
has provided a unique link between the younger generation with the 
older generation and a wonderful teaching opportunity about service to 
our country and a great history lesson for those students at 
LaCrosseroads.
  I praise teachers such as Karen Schoenfeld who have broken down 
barriers to work with all students using innovative and creative 
strategies to teach.
  It is important that charter schools give flexibility and options to 
teachers and their parents, but we must remember they are not the cure-
all for improving public education. We have to be diligent at 
monitoring the success or failure of charter schools throughout the 
country and not afraid of shutting down those that are not working. 
That is the key to moving forward with the option of choice in our 
public school system, I believe.
  Charter schools have consistently been at the forefront of my 
priority list, and I am pleased that Wisconsin is one of seven States 
with over 100 exceptional charter schools today. I have consistently 
advocated for increased support for charter schools and supported the 
Charter School Facilities Financing Demonstration Program during 
consideration of the No Child Left Behind legislation of 2001.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring 
charter schools. It is our duty as representatives of this Congress to 
ensure that all our students reach their highest

[[Page 6837]]

academic potential, and a charter school may provide a model better 
suited towards an individual student's needs.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), chairman of the full committee.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 781, 
a measure to recognize charter schools, as well as their students, 
parents, teachers, and administrators.
  This week marks the Seventh Annual National Charter Schools Week, and 
I thank my colleague Mr. Porter for taking the lead in recognizing 
these schools today. Mr. Porter is a strong supporter of education and 
serves on the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
  Each year Congress honors charter schools and those involved in the 
role they play in reforming and improving our Nation's public education 
system, and for good reason. Year after year charter schools make 
significant contributions across our Nation.
  Charter schools are public schools that agree to improved academic 
achievement and accountability in financial and other operations in 
exchange for added flexibility and independence. They are subject to 
all the same No Child Left Behind achievement goals as other public 
schools but with greater flexibility in how they improve student 
success.
  This enhanced autonomy allows charter schools to focus on increasing 
academic achievement for individual students rather than complying with 
bureaucratic paperwork. Moreover, it allows charter schools to use 
varied educational methods and techniques while accounting for their 
results.
  Some 3,600 charter schools serve about 1 million students in 40 
States and Washington, DC. Nearly 56 percent of these charter schools 
have waiting lists. In other words, they are in high demand, with that 
demand growing all the time. That is because charter schools understand 
how to meet the specific needs of the local communities in which they 
operate, and these schools are particularly devoted to serving low-
income communities.
  Nationwide, almost 50 percent of charter schools serve students 
considered at-risk or who have previously dropped out of school; and 
charter schools serve significant numbers of students from low-income 
families, minority students, and students with disabilities. Indeed, 
these innovative public schools allow many parents and students freedom 
of choice that otherwise would not be available.
  Mr. Speaker, through this resolution honoring National Charter 
Schools Week, we recognize the continued success demonstrated by 
charter schools and acknowledge the benefits that charter schools 
provide to our local communities. Charter schools provide parents with 
a wider variety of educational choices, and they provide students the 
opportunity to receive a high-quality education that they may not have 
received otherwise.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), a strong advocate for our public 
education system and a terrific friend of charter schools.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for 
his kind words. I thank Mr. Porter for his work in bringing this 
resolution to the floor.
  We are right to recognize public charter schools. Public charter 
schools are the most important innovation in public education since the 
invention of free public education in our country. They have become so 
popular, they have become a movement, growing like ``Topsy''.
  The Congress, when Newt Gingrich was here, as an alternative to 
vouchers, helped jump-start public charter schools in the District of 
Columbia and in the Nation by passing the first public charter school 
bill right here in the Congress for the District, with the agreement 
and total home rule involvement of the District of Columbia. That was 
in 1995. What did the schools do? They helped us jump-start a movement 
that has produced in the District of Columbia the largest number of 
public charter schools per capita in the United States. As I look down 
the list, Mr. Speaker, the District has more charter schools, this one 
city, than most States. They have really taken off for some years now 
as an alternative to D.C. public schools.
  When a child does not have a school that is offering that child and 
that family what the child deserves, then the child must have an 
alternative. It can be going out of its neighborhood; and the best 
alternative and the only acceptable alternative, it seems to me, would 
be some other kind of public charter school. That is what has happened 
in the District of Columbia. That is why the people of the District of 
Columbia resent deeply that, despite the growth of the charter school 
movement, despite the fact that we have some of the best charter 
schools in the country and the largest number per capita, that Congress 
imposed on us something it would not accept for the rest of the 
country, and that is private school vouchers.
  Well, our people have voted with their feet. They want a neighborhood 
school near them. These schools are very important. Most of the 
religious schools are in Northwest. Most of our kids who need or want 
alternative schools live in Southeast. So Congress did vouchers for 
itself. It did not do it for us, and it did it against our will when, 
in fact, we had demonstrated that public charter schools were, in fact, 
working in D.C. and working very well.
  A child must have an alternative, but that alternative cannot be one 
where the public dollar is not accounted for, where there is no 
oversight by the public. And I am the last one who wants oversight, for 
example, of religious schools or anything involving religion. It 
follows that religious schools must not be that alternative. The 
thriving public charter school movement is, in fact, and should be that 
alternative.
  All kinds of innovations are happening in the District of Columbia 
that I invite people to come and see: Shared facilities in large 
buildings (instead of getting rid of the building) between public and 
charter schools. Collaboration now between the best of our charter 
schools and some public schools which are not doing so well. Public 
schools, public charter schools, unlike many public schools even under 
No Child Left Behind, are a case of the survival of the fittest.

                              {time}  1100

  You lose your charter, in fact, if you do not measure up. That is 
what happens in the District of Columbia. As far as I know, it happens 
wherever the schools are well run.
  Mr. Chairman, I simply want to note just for the record the kinds of 
reasons that charter schools flourish. We have technology schools, 
bilingual schools. We have performing arts charter schools in the 
District. We have math and science charter schools. We have an 
enterprising development charter school.
  I would just like to have the Congress know some of the charter 
schools that are regarded as the best in the United States: D.C. 
Preparatory Academy Public Charter School; the Friendship Edison 
Charter School; KIPP D.C., The Key Academy Public Charter School; Paul 
Public Charter School.
  Mr. Speaker, the District of Columbia actually has the first public 
boarding school, and it is a charter school. It is called the SEED 
Public Charter School. This is what you can do. This is the kind of 
innovation that comes from charter schools. It doesn't come from 
religious schools. They have their own way. They have had it for 
hundreds of years.
  If you want innovation in public education, if you want an 
alternative to your public schools, the best bet are charter schools, 
which will be located right in your neighborhood, which are so 
accountable that they lose their charters if they do not in fact 
produce.
  I strongly support this resolution, and I appreciate that it has come 
forward today.

[[Page 6838]]


  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly applaud my colleagues across the aisle for 
their support, and certainly recognize the District of Columbia and its 
advancement in the charter school arena.
  I reflect back to 9 years ago in Nevada when we passed our first 
charter legislation, and I remember a lot of naysayers. As a member of 
the State senate at that time, I received numerous nasty calls and lots 
of different opinions on the impact of charter schools on traditional 
public education.
  The problem was, at that time, in those days, a lot of the naysayers 
didn't realize that this would remain and would be a public school. But 
it truly is an example of success nationwide.
  If we look at the classroom in the last 100 years, it looks just 
about like it did 100 years ago. If you look at the operating room in a 
hospital, it changed substantially, with new technologies and new 
techniques.
  The one thing that has worked so well with charter schools is that so 
many diverse groups that were opposed to this have come together and 
have found and shown nationwide the success of helping children have 
the finest education; no matter what their background, what their 
physical handicap, that they can truly have a success.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be here today to recognize charter schools 
across the Nation. To those of our forefathers, just a short decade 
ago, especially here in the District of Columbia, to my friend, the 
gentlewoman who is the Congresswoman here, I thank them for their 
support.
  Again, this is just the beginning. The more we can encourage charter 
schools across the Nation to encourage parents, teachers, 
administrators, business leaders and community leaders to get involved, 
the better we are going to help our children.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague 
on the Education and Workforce Committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Kucinich).
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin. I 
want to say what a pleasure it is to serve with him on the committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring a note of caution to the 
discussion of this resolution and the debate surrounding charter 
schools. Much has been said today in praise of charter schools; praise 
for the diverse ways charter schools use their flexibility to reach 
students, praise for the innovation educators can demonstrate in these 
schools.
  There is no doubt that numerous charter schools across the Nation are 
founded and run with the best of intentions and with hopes for the 
success of their students, and I think it is necessary to pause and 
acknowledge the risk that comes along with the flexibility and the 
autonomy that charter schools are given.
  In my hometown of Cleveland, a charter school which opened in 1999 
was forced to shut down in 2005 after several years of fiscal 
mismanagement. State audits had shown discrepancies for several years 
before the eventual closure of the school. After its closure, parents 
were left mid-school-year scrambling to find another school for their 
children. Teachers who had diligently worked for several months were 
left without pay and without recourse. Children were uprooted and 
forced to start over again in a new school with new classmates and new 
teachers.
  The intention behind granting charter schools additional flexibility 
is an admirable one. The use of creative and unique tools and methods 
to teach students is refreshing in an era of standardized tests and 
one-size-fits-all accountability measures, but that flexibility cannot 
and should not extend so far that it places students' educations at 
risk. Increased autonomy in schools should not equal teachers left 
without jobs and pay, as it did in Cleveland.
  The characteristics of charter schools lauded in this resolution 
offer additional independence for educators, but they also offer 
additional risks for children. In our quest to ensure that every child 
in America receives a quality education and the opportunity to realize 
their dreams, we must take heed of these risks. We must ensure that 
every child is able to reach his or her highest potential and give 
every child the opportunity to realize his or her dreams.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and in conclusion, 
I just want to again thank the gentleman from Nevada for his leadership 
in support of this resolution. I am glad that the Congress has taken a 
moment this morning to recognize the important role that charter 
schools have throughout the entire country. We have heard some of the 
success stories of those that are working well. It has enabled the 
leaders of the education community, the leadership of these schools, 
the teachers, administrators, parents and other involved community 
members to think creatively and innovatively to enhance the educational 
opportunities of our kids in a less restrictive environment with 
greater flexibility but with the important accountability that we heard 
a lot about here today.
  Again, I would encourage my colleagues to adopt this resolution and 
look forward to working with my colleagues on the Education and 
Workforce Committee in doing things to improve the charter school 
movement throughout the country.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would just like to conclude by saying there certainly 
have been challenges with some charter schools across the country, 
schools that possibly were underfunded, possibly weren't organized 
properly. But the advantage of a charter school is that if it does not 
succeed, they lose their charter, and immediately, as a public school 
should, a traditional public school system, there is a fail-safe 
security system in place. So there is no doubt there have been examples 
where the charters have not been a success, as there have been in other 
schools, traditional public schools, traditional high schools, 
traditional grade schools, that have not succeeded. Again, there are 
numerous, numerous stories of success, but those areas that have not 
performed properly have lost their charters. I think it is important to 
note that is one of the advantages with the charter system.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H. Res. 
781, a resolution to recognize and congratulate charter schools and 
their students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the United 
States for their ongoing contributions to education.
  The first known charter school opened in 1991, and in 1995 we had our 
first charter school in Delaware. Of the nearly 1.1 million children 
attending charter schools across the country, over 5,000 students 
attend one of our 13 charter schools in Delaware.
  It is clear that everyone in this country is interested in closing 
what we know as the achievement gap that currently exists in our 
schools. There is not one solution to this problem. I do believe that 
one avenue is to encourage innovation, which is something that our 
charter schools embrace. A recent Delaware study found, for the second 
year in a row, that Delaware's charter schools are exceeding 
achievement levels, with the most dramatic results in grade 10.
  The nature of charter schools--nonsectarian public schools of choice 
that operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to 
traditional public schools--has enabled many schools in the Gulf Coast 
to reopen. The ``charter'' establishing each school is a performance 
contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, students 
served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success. I was able 
to see firsthand how important it is for these schools to reopen, and 
commend those schools for taking advantage of the charter avenue.
  With this week being national charter schools week, it is therefore 
fitting that we recognize charter schools as another way to improve 
student achievement and increase parental involvement and satisfaction.
  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 781, which 
congratulates and commends charter schools and their students,

[[Page 6839]]

parents, teachers, and administrators across the United States for 
their ongoing contributions to education and the public school system.
  Charter schools have been and continue to be a modern-day public 
education story filled with successes and accomplishments. These 
schools contain the key ingredient in successful schools: active 
participation not only from teachers and students, but of the entire 
community. When the whole community--from parents, to businesses and 
community organizations, to entire neighborhoods--has a critical role 
in contributing to their local schools, the outcomes are tremendous. 
These schools have consistently enabled students to achieve 
academically and contribute positively to their communities.
  In my state of Hawai`i, charter schools have been an exciting 
development in public education in decades. With more and more charter 
schools emerging each year, currently 27, they have managed to succeed 
despite institutional opposition in bringing their brand of education 
in the communities.
  These growing pains and other obstacles make this national 
recognition even more deserved. But for these very reasons, charter 
schools also deserve their fair share of resources from federal and 
state governments.
  A specific source of great pride within the Hawai`i charter school 
community is the development of Native Hawaiian charter schools. Na Lei 
Na`auao, the Hawaiian Charter School Alliance, serves over 1,500 Native 
Hawaiian public school students. The Alliance, whose focus is 
``Education with Aloha'' seeks to enable Native Hawaiian students to 
achieve educational success with culturally-driven methods.
  The Native Hawaiian charter schools and Hawai`i's other charter 
schools, both existing and future, need a federal government to be 
clear and unequivocal in its continued support for the concept of 
charter schools. They also need full parity in funding between 
traditional public schools and charter schools.
  H. Res. 781 is welcome and needed, but these great words must now be 
partnered with action. I look forward to working with my colleagues and 
other charter schools believers toward this realization of the dream.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate Charter Schools across the country and in the 21st 
District of Florida for their continuing work to educate our country's 
youth. Charter schools are a great asset for our children and for our 
public school system. By providing flexible programs, community 
outreach, and specialized training, charter schools serve the ever 
changing needs of our students. The City of Pembroke Pines Florida 
Charter School, located within the 21st District of Florida, stands as 
an exemplary model of excellence among all charter schools.
  Under Governor Jeb Bush's A-plus plan, the Pembroke Pines charter 
elementary and middle schools have all earned an ``A'' for the past two 
years for exceptional student achievement. The Pembroke Pines Charter 
School standardized test scores are outstanding. By all measures, this 
charter school has exceeded its goals and reached beyond expectations.
  The City of Pembroke Pines Florida Charter School is exceptional for 
another reason: its specialized training for autistic students. At 
Pembroke Pines, autistic students receive training tailored to their 
unique and individual needs. Not only do these students receive the 
personal attention that they need, they also are assimilated into the 
general school population. This innovative program brilliantly serves 
both needs of our autistic students by expanding their academic ability 
while fostering good social skills among the general student body.
  I wholeheartedly commend our charter schools for their hard work and 
devotion to our children. With creative solutions and selfless 
dedication, these schools provide an invaluable service to the next 
generation of Americans. On the occasion of National Charter Schools 
week, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest 
support for this resolution. Most of all, I extend my heartfelt 
gratitude to the teachers, administrators, and students of our Nation's 
charter schools.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield 
back the balance of my time and encourage support for this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 781.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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