WASHINGTON, D.C.- The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools today released the following statement from president and CEO Peter C. Groff to applaud the U.S. House of Representatives passage of the Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act of 2011:
“Today was a good day for parents, teachers and most importantly the nearly two million students who attend public charter schools. It is also a day of renewed hope to the 420,000 children on waiting lists to attend a public charter school. The Alliance applauds the Houses strong bipartisan vote on this education reform bill that will help grow and sustain our nations charter school movement. It is fitting that Congress showed such strong support for charters, given that seven out of 10 Americans support these independent public schools. Charter schools promote excellence and innovation and are working tirelessly to close the achievement gap in many of our nations most underserved communities. The bill, which is the first of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization bills to be passed by the House, provides funding to open new charter schools and replicate and expand high-performing models; streamlines and updates the federal charter facilities aid programs to ensure charter school students can learn in the best possible school settings; drives the next generation of state policies around quality; supports the evaluation of charter schools impact on students, families and communities; and encourages the sharing of best practices between public charter schools and traditional public schools.
###
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter sector.
