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 pro-
moting 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 Com-
monwealth 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 Common-
wealth 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
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movement through facilities’ financing assistance and
grants for planning, startup, implementation, and dis-
semination;
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 Elemen-
tary 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 pa-
rental 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 average-
sized 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 sup-
port from the Administration, the Congress, State Gov-
ernors 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 char-
ter schools and grassroots charter school organizations
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across the United States to recognize the significant im-
pacts, 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 improv-
ing 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 sup-
port for charter schools during this week-long celebration
in communities throughout the United States.
Attest:
Clerk.