National Charter Schools Week, 2005

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Part III

The President

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Proclamation 7890--National Charter Schools Week, 2005

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7890 of April 28, 2005

National Charter Schools Week, 2005

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Strong schools are the building blocks of a prosperous
and hopeful country. To ensure that all our children
receive the education they need to succeed, schools
must be innovative, accountable, and committed to
student achievement. The charter school movement was
founded on these principles and has played an important
role in expanding educational choices in America. This
week, we highlight the importance of charter schools
and recognize their contributions to American
education.

Charter schools are unique because they are public
schools operating under a contract from a public
agency. In exchange for increased flexibility in
teaching methods and curricula, these schools promise
to meet strict accountability standards designed to
improve student performance. Four hundred new charter
schools opened in 32 states for the 2004-2005 school
year, and there are nearly 3,400 charter schools
serving almost one million children in America. These
institutions have provided a valuable alternative to
families throughout the country.

My Administration is committed to advancing public
education in America. The No Child Left Behind Act of
2001 is bringing increased accountability to our
schools. Test scores are rising, and the achievement
gap for minority students is closing. Our continued
strong commitment to this legislation is ensuring that
parents have greater flexibility when deciding on how
best to educate their children. To support and enhance
school choice, I have proposed $219 million for Charter
School Grants and $37 million for Credit Enhancement
for Charter School Facilities. I have also called for
$50 million in new funding for the Choice Incentive
Fund to support development of innovative school-choice
programs.

We must continue to demand better results from our
schools so that every high school diploma represents a
significant level of educational achievement and all
graduates are armed with the tools to succeed in the
21st Century. I commend the teachers and administrators
of charter schools and all educators who are providing
innovative alternatives that prepare our children for a
bright and successful future.

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 May 1 through 7, 2005, as
National Charter Schools Week. I call on parents of
charter school students and all those involved with
charter schools to share their success stories and help
Americans learn more about the important work of these
institutions.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand five, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

(Presidential Sig.)B