On April 27, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a resolution (S. Res. 127) congratulating charter schools and designating May 1 through May 7, 2005, as National Charter Schools Week. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) sponsored the resolution.
The resolution states that charter schools “are public schools authorized by a designated public entity that are responding to the needs of our communities, families, and students,” and notes that they provide “high-quality education and challenge our students to reach their potential” and currently “serve a higher percentage of low-income and minority students than the traditional public system.” According to the resolution, “nearly 3,300 charter schools are now operating in 40 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and serving approximately 900,000 students.”
Sen. Gregg applauded charter schools for their “unique role in public education,” adding, “They are founded and run by principals, teachers and parents who share a common vision of education, a vision which guides each and every decision made at the schools, from hiring personnel to selecting curricula. Furthermore, charter schools are held strictly accountable for student performance if they fail to educate their students well and meet the goals of their charters, they are closed. Most importantly, charter schools are raising student achievement.”
