Congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for yielding time to me.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 344, congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrars across the United States for their ongoing contributions to educational excellence.

Charter schools are public schools that are created by teachers, parents, and other members of the community as innovative means to educate students and to stimulate reform in the public school system. As public schools, they must serve students from all backgrounds and educational abilities.

In exchange for greater accountability for student achievements, these schools are exempt from many local and State regulations. Grassroots support for charter schools continues to grow, from one school in the 1992-1993 school year, to over 4,000 schools serving over 1 million students in the 2006-2007 school year.

The demand is simply remarkable. The charter model itself is playing a critical role in these schools' success. Its flexibility and accountability are allowing individuals with nontraditional backgrounds and relentless attitudes to create high achievement cultures. These charter schools are setting new standards about what's possible and about what we should expect from all our public schools. Indeed, charter schools are shattering low expectations and breaking through long standing barriers that have prevented large numbers of at-risk students from achieving educational success.

Charter schools are usually among the top performers in big city school districts and often rival the highest performing schools in surrounding suburban districts. These high performers are setting important examples about what public schools can achieve with disadvantaged students.

More and more data indicates that charter schools deliver promising results for student achievement. In an analysis of almost three dozen charter school studies, a vast majority found that overall gains in charter schools were larger than in other public schools, sometimes in certain significant categories of schools such as elementary schools, high schools or schools serving at risk students.

Yet, even with these outstanding results, of the 40 States that have passed charter school laws, 25 States and the District of Columbia have some type of legislative cap on charter school growth. These caps serve as blunt instruments that do not lead to high quality schools. Instead of stifling growth, States should focus on providing the resources, oversight and accountability that helps charter schools thrive.

We know what produces high quality charter schools--dedicated students, parents, teachers and principals, rigorous approval processes, conscientious oversight and sufficient resources, including facilities funding. We should work to replicate these models of best practices and apply them to local school districts throughout the country.

It is my hope that the charter community will continue to build on its 15-year history of providing a high quality option in public education that is based on innovation, freedom from red tape, and partnership between parents and educators, an option that is giving new hope to disadvantaged and minority families across the country.

I also appreciate the contribution charter schools have made in ongoing efforts to rebuild and strengthen my home State of Louisiana after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, particularly in New Orleans.

For these reasons, it is my honor to congratulate charter schools and their students, parents, teachers and administrars across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education, as well as recognizing this week as National Charter School Week. I commend President Bush for his recent

proclamation, ``recognizing the important contributions of charter schools,'' as well as my good friends and colleagues, Mr. Platts and Mrs. McCarthy for bringing this resolution to the floor.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, as we celebrate charter schools I want to recognize the Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) operating in my Congressional District. The Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) has a unique mission and purpose. It has been said that education is the great equalizer--it is the key to success.

The mission of YCCS is to provide individuals who have dropped out of school an opportunity--to drop back in and receive a quality education. Since its creation in 1997, YCCS has graduated more than 5,700 students who had previously dropped out of traditional high schools. Just think, what would have happened to those students if YCCS was not available to them. They likely would have become another statistic.

Clearly, the data shows that students who drop out are more likely to be unemployed. In fact, the unemployment rate nationally for high school drop-outs was 29.8 percent in 200. (Dept. of Labor). We know that students who drop out are more likely to be candidates for prisons. A total of 75 percent of America's state prison inmates are high shool drop-outs, with only 59 percent of America's federal prison inmates completing high school (Harlow, 2003). We also know that high school drop-outs are more likely to be receiving public assistance and living in poverty. These negative consequences lead to the destruction of a community and country. Students who drop out are less likely to be married or see a doctor on a regular basis. The benefits of a high school education move society forward economically and socially. A person with a high school diploma is more likely to be employed, live longer, and become a productive part of society.

The impact of YCCS and its involvement as the only charter school in Illinois providing alternative educational services focused primarily on drop-outs can be seen throughout education. In 2005, YCCS placed in the upper third for school performance in reading by CPS in comparison to all of the other 76 high schools in the city of Chlcago.

Conversely, we know that a quality education opens the doors of opportunity and provides hope for a brighter future. An investment in the education of young people who have dropped out of school saves our city and state taxpayers' money. The Alliance for Excellent Education reports that a 1 percent increase in high school gradution rates would save approximately $1.4 billion in incarceration costs yearly. Additionally, a 1-year incease in average education levels would reduce arrest rates by 11 percent.

I am pleased to honor the outstanding work of the Youth Connection Charter School.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 344) congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrars across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 344 into the Record.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mrs. McCARTHY of New York asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Boustany for introducing this resolution to honor National Charter School Week. He has been the sponsor of this resolution for the past 3 years, and we appreciate his leadership on this issue.

Charter schools across the country are marking this occasion by opening their doors to the community and inviting them to learn about the role of charter schools in public education. With over 3,600 charter schools educating nearly 1.1 million children, charter schools have changed the landscape of public education. Almost 250 schools are created each year. Committed parents and students and community leaders have led the way, creating charter schools to meet the needs of the local community.

Charter schools are free from regulations but not accountability. There are model charter schools that are producing good outcomes for their students. The public school system in this country continues to generate innovative strategies for educating all children. Quality charter schools represent one model for this innovation.

On the occasion of National Charter School Week, I want to commend the 90,000 public schools in this country that are working hard to provide opportunity for children across the country. I urge my colleagues to support our Nation's charter schools and to vote for this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Mr. Chris Murphy.

Madam Speaker, again, I would like to thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) for introducing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 344.

As you can tell, today we have been talking about the children of this Nation on so many of our different issues. And again, I am very happy to work with my colleague on the committee, Mr. Platts from Pennsylvania.

When we talk about our children and the future of the Nation, obviously, education is the most important thing. So, again, it has been a pleasure introducing these resolutions.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from New York and the gentlemen from Pennsylvania and Louisiana for bringing this resolution before us.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution to recognize the contributions of charter schools to education. So often we talk about the crisis of America's schools and our educational system, but it's equally important to take some time to recognize the good that's being done. That's why I welcome this opportunity to acknowledge the impact that charter schools are making in our education system nationally.

In congratulating charter schools, I want to also acknowledge the work of all of our administrators and our educators in our public school system and our public charter school system as well. Noncharter public schools remain the bedrock of our educational system, and we need to make sure that we are doing everything here in Congress and at our State level to make sure that our public schools have the opportunity to succeed.

But charter schools are growing because, when done right, they're working. They represent a network of committed and innovative administrators, teachers and parents whose great determination and resolve complement the public education system. This national network of 4,000 charter schools infuses hope and possibility into communities. In Connecticut alone, there are 16 charter schools educating over 2,500 students.

Charter schools are infused with an imagination. Moreover, these schools are effectively engaging students around innovative and aggressive curriculum. They are setting the bar high and they are getting results. As we consider solutions for improving math and science education and increasing the number of high school graduates and students matriculating to colleges and university, we should remember the contributions that charter schools are making to the education of our Nation's children.

Again, Madam Speaker, I commend the tremendous dedication of all educators. Their unsung sacrifices are critical to ensuring the success of America's youth today and the skill of tomorrow's workforce.

I urge all Members to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Pembroke Pines Charter School as we consider H. Res. 344, a bill congratulating Charter Schools.

Forty states and the District of Columbia have charter schools, totaling nearly 4,000 schools nationally. Enrollment is approximately one million students or about 2 percent of the Nation's elementary, middle and high school enrollment. Over one-half of all charter schools are in Florida, Arizona, California, Ohio and Texas.

The City of Pembroke Pines Charter School is the only city-sponsored charter school in Florida. Madam Speaker, the Pembroke Pines Charter School, located in my district, is comprised of seven schools ranging from K-12 grades with a total enrollment of nearly 5,400 students. The school is so successful that there is a waiting list of 9,000 students desiring to attend the Pembroke Pines Charter Schools.

The Pembroke Pines Charter High School has recently been rated as one of the top two high schools in Broward County, with 93 percent of all Pembroke Pines charter school high school graduates attending college.

The Pembroke Pines Charter Schools were among those nominated to the Center for Education Reform to compete for the honor of being named one of the top charter schools in the Nation. Out of 4,000 charter schools nationwide, 52 charter schools received this acknowledgement of distinction.

Madam Speaker, two of these top charter schools are part of the Pembroke Pines Charter School System. Ms. Devarn Flowers, Principal of the West Campuses, and other city and school officials will attend a special recognition program at The Center for Education Reform in Washington, DC on May 15, 2007 to receive the ``top schools'' recognition for The Pembroke Pines Charter Schools.

I commend Ms. Devarn Flowers, the teachers, the administrators and especially the students of Pembroke Pines Charter Schools for their hard work. On the occasion of National Charter Schools week, I am enthusiastically supporting this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 344.