For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 2, 2002
National Charter Schools Week, 2002
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Over a decade ago in Minnesota, a handful of educators envisioned a
new kind of educational institution that would provide an alternative
for children trapped in under-performing public schools. Their
philosophy for a "charter school" was straightforward and powerful:
provide parents the option to send their children to innovative public
schools that combine flexibility and autonomy with a guarantee to raise
student achievement.
Today, we recognize the important successes of the charter school
experiment. Nearly 2,400 charter schools now exist across our Nation.
Thanks to bipartisan support at the local, State, and Federal level,
more than a half-million children have attended these public schools
and obtained a better education.
In reading, math, science, special education, early childhood
education, and other areas, charter schools have implemented
inno-vative programs that produce results. Charter school principals
and teachers have the freedom to develop classroom techniques that meet
their students' unique needs, and parents appreciate the ability to
have direct input into their children's educational progress. Charter
school adminis-trators are accountable to students, parents, and
community leaders, and they know that if their school fails to meet
expectations, it must either improve or close.
The effects of charter schools extend beyond the schoolhouse
walls. Wherever charter schools are clustered together, we see
traditional schools reevaluate their methods and programs. At this
basic level, charter schools help stimulate community debate and
inspire educational excellence.
Accountability, flexibility, expanded choices, and a focus on
methods that work are all important elements in the landmark,
bipartisan, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which I signed into law
in January. This legislation authorizes a new program, the Charter
School Facility Demonstration Project, which provides important seed
funding for charter school infrastructure and construction needs. It
also continues the Charter School Grants program that supports planning
and development of new public charter schools. Together these programs
provide valuable tools to American education. Now we must work
together to implement this new legislation in all our communities so no
child is left behind.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 28 through May
4, 2002, as National Charter Schools Week. I call on parents of
charter school children to share their success stories with others so
that all Americans may learn more about charter schools and their
important work. I commend the States with charter schools.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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