Rep. Howard P. “Buck" McKeon (R-CA), the senior Republican on the U.S.House Education and Labor Committee, today welcomed the beginning of the 10th Annual National Charter Schools Week and highlighted the success of these innovative public schools.
Charter schools, which are granted flexibility from state and local regulations in exchange for greater accountability for student achievement, have had an especially prominent impact in many of the nation’s largest cities and in the school districts facing some of the greatest challenges. Charter schools in the District of Columbia, for example, have proven immensely popular for many families who were dealing with underperforming schools, high dropout rates, and a lack of accountability.
“Charter schools have been providing greater choice and flexibility for America’s families since 1994, and have been serving a higher percentage of low-income and minority students than the traditional public school system," said McKeon. “By strengthening parental choice, enhancing flexibility for states and local school districts, and encouraging reform, we can greatly improve our nation’s educational system."
This week, Congress will commemorate National Charter Schools Week with a bipartisan resolution which serves to, “acknowledge and commend charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education and improving and strengthening our public school system."
According to the Center for Education Reform, as of January 2009, there are more than 4,500 charter schools serving more than 1.4 million children in 40 states and the District of Columbia. “Lawmakers should look no further than the charter sector for an abundance of public school success," says Jeanne Allen president of the Center for Education Reform. “Strong charter laws provide flexibility and freedom in exchange for accountability which are the key ingredients for student achievement."
For more information on Republican efforts to expand parental choice in education, including efforts to replicate high-performing charter schools, please visit the Education and Labor Committee Republican website.