[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 23007-23008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8941]



[[Page 23005]]

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Part III





The President





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Proclamation 7890--National Charter Schools Week, 2005
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 3, 2005 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 23007]]

                Proclamation 7890 of April 28, 2005

                
National Charter Schools Week, 2005

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Strong schools are the building blocks of a prosperous 
                and hopeful country. To ensure that all our children 
                receive the education they need to succeed, schools 
                must be innovative, accountable, and committed to 
                student achievement. The charter school movement was 
                founded on these principles and has played an important 
                role in expanding educational choices in America. This 
                week, we highlight the importance of charter schools 
                and recognize their contributions to American 
                education.

                Charter schools are unique because they are public 
                schools operating under a contract from a public 
                agency. In exchange for increased flexibility in 
                teaching methods and curricula, these schools promise 
                to meet strict accountability standards designed to 
                improve student performance. Four hundred new charter 
                schools opened in 32 states for the 2004-2005 school 
                year, and there are nearly 3,400 charter schools 
                serving almost one million children in America. These 
                institutions have provided a valuable alternative to 
                families throughout the country.

                My Administration is committed to advancing public 
                education in America. The No Child Left Behind Act of 
                2001 is bringing increased accountability to our 
                schools. Test scores are rising, and the achievement 
                gap for minority students is closing. Our continued 
                strong commitment to this legislation is ensuring that 
                parents have greater flexibility when deciding on how 
                best to educate their children. To support and enhance 
                school choice, I have proposed $219 million for Charter 
                School Grants and $37 million for Credit Enhancement 
                for Charter School Facilities. I have also called for 
                $50 million in new funding for the Choice Incentive 
                Fund to support development of innovative school-choice 
                programs.

                We must continue to demand better results from our 
                schools so that every high school diploma represents a 
                significant level of educational achievement and all 
                graduates are armed with the tools to succeed in the 
                21st Century. I commend the teachers and administrators 
                of charter schools and all educators who are providing 
                innovative alternatives that prepare our children for a 
                bright and successful future.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim May 1 through 7, 2005, as 
                National Charter Schools Week. I call on parents of 
                charter school students and all those involved with 
                charter schools to share their success stories and help 
                Americans learn more about the important work of these 
                institutions.

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                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand five, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 05-8941
Filed 5-2-05; 9:55 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P