National Charter Schools Week, 2007

Proclamation 8134 of April 27, 2007

National Charter Schools Week, 2007

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Across our country, charter schools are providing
quality education for America's students. During
National Charter Schools Week, we recognize the
important contributions of charter schools and
underscore our commitment to ensuring that all children
receive the education they need to lead lives of
purpose and success.

Charter schools are public schools that provide
families with a valuable educational alternative.
Because they are not bound by many regulatory
requirements, charter schools have the flexibility to
innovate in ways that will best meet students' academic
needs. Today, there are about 4,000 charter schools in
40 States and the District of Columbia helping more
than one million students realize their full potential.

My Administration is dedicated to providing parents
with more choices so that their children will have the
best opportunity to gain the skills necessary to
compete and succeed in the global economy. Through the
No Child Left Behind Act, we are setting high
standards, expanding parents' options, and closing the
achievement gap. Charter schools are getting results
and helping guide children across the country on the
path to a better life.

This week we thank educational entrepreneurs for
supporting charter schools, and we honor all those
involved in charter schools for helping their students
reach high expectations.

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 29 through May 5,
2007, as National Charter Schools Week. I applaud our
Nation's charter schools and all those who make them a
success, and I call on parents of charter school
students to share their success stories and help
Americans understand more about the important work of
charter schools.

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