Declaring April 30-May 4, 2001 National Charter Public Schools Week.

WHEREAS, Charter schools are nonsectarian public schools and are accountable for academic results and fiscal practices to several groups: their authorizer, the parents who choose them and the public that funds them. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is one of the thirty six states that have passed charter school laws; and

WHEREAS, More than half a million students attend the nation's charter public schools. Nationwide, students in charter public schools have similar demographic characteristics to those in traditional public schools. In some states and municipalities, charter schools serve significantly higher percentages of minority or economically disadvantaged students with a wide variety of curriculum and programs; and

WHEREAS, The theme of the nation's first-ever National Charter Schools Week, held May 1-5, 2000, was "New Choices in Public Education" and considered an unqualified success; and

WHEREAS, National Charter Schools Week is intended primarily to showcase the accomplishments of the more than 2,100 charter schools that are now in operation all across the country. Stories of innovative programs, ever rising individual pupil and school achievements and involved, enthusiastic and committed parents will be the focus of this week; and

WHEREAS, National Charter Schools Week is co-sponsored by more than seventy organizations in over forty states and supported by President Bush, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige in addition to many other bi-partisan national and local political and educational leaders.

WHEREAS, Charter schools bring American education to an unprecedented level of accountability. Having detailed, written contracts, their existence is directly linked to performance and give parents a new freedom, and greater flexibility, to choose both the public schools and curriculums best suited for their children; and

WHEREAS, Activities planned in commemoration of this week within Philadelphia charter schools include broadcast documentaries, fundraisers, student and administration appreciation ceremonies, theme-centered day and evening activities, School Tours with legislators, political, business and community leaders and networking opportunities; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we declare April 30-May 4, 2001 as National Charter Public Schools Week and join in the celebration of its accomplishments and contributions to public education. We further applaud charter schools'; particularly those situated within our Fair City, efforts to encourage community and parental involvement in the education of our youth.

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