H. Res. 781
In the House of Representatives, U.S., 
May 3, 2006.
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 chil-
dren; 
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 move-
ment through facilities financing assistance and grants 
for planning, startup, implementation, and dissemination;
•HRES 781 EH 
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 addi-
tional 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 satisfac-
tion levels, and must prove their ongoing success to par-
ents, 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 sup-
port 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 organi-
zations across the United States to recognize the signifi-
cant impacts, achievements, and innovations of charter 
schools: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That—
•HRES 781 EH 
(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 improv-
ing and strengthening our public school system; 
(2) the House of Representatives supports the sev-
enth 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 sup-
port for charter schools during this weeklong celebration 
in communities throughout the United States.
Attest: 
Clerk.