H. Res. 218

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

May 3, 2005.

Whereas charter schools deliver high-quality education and

challenge our students to reach their potential;

Whereas charter schools provide thousands of our families

with diverse and innovative educational options for their

children;

Whereas charter schools are public schools authorized by a

designated public entity and are responding to the needs

of our communities, families, and students and are 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 41 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have passed laws authorizing

charter schools;

Whereas nearly 3,300 charter schools are now operating in

40 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and are serving approximately

900,000 students;

Whereas over the last 10 years, Congress has provided more

than $1,500,000,000 in support to the charter school
2

•HRES 218 EH

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 included by the No Child

Left Behind Act of 2001, and contained in 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, charter schools routinely measure parental satisfaction levels, and charter schools must prove

their ongoing success to parents, policymakers, and their

communities;

Whereas nearly 40 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 1,000 averagesized 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 Administration, the Congress, State Governors and legislatures, educators, and parents across the

United States; and

Whereas the sixth annual National Charter Schools Week, to

be held May 1 to 7, 2005, is an event sponsored by charter schools and grassroots charter school organizations
3

•HRES 218 EH

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 the public school system of the

United States;

(2) the House of Representatives supports the sixth

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 week-long celebration

in communities throughout the United States.

Attest:

Clerk.