III 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 453 

Congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and 

administrators across the United States for their ongoing contributions 

to education, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 27, 2006 

Mr. ALEXANDER (for himself, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. GREGG, Mr. FRIST, Mr. 

CARPER, Mr. VITTER, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. BURR, Mr. COLEMAN, Mr. 

ALLARD, Mr. DEMINT, and Mr. MARTINEZ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, 

teachers, and administrators across the United States 

for their ongoing contributions to education, and for 

other purposes. 

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; 


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•SRES 453 ATS

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 more than 3,600 charter schools are now operating 

in 40 States and the District of Columbia, serving more 

than 1,000,000 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 averagesized charter schools; 


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•SRES 453 ATS

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 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) the Senate acknowledges and commends 

3 charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, 

4 and administrators across the United States for 

5 their ongoing contributions to education and improv6 ing and strengthening our public school system; 

7 (2) the Senate supports the seventh annual Na8 tional Charter Schools Week; and 

9 (3) it is the sense of the Senate that the people 

10 of the United States should conduct appropriate pro11 grams, ceremonies, and activities to demonstrate 

12 support for charter schools during this week long 

13 celebration in communities throughout the United 

14 States. 

Æ 


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