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National Charter Schools Week 2009

National Charter Schools Week
May 3-9, 2009

 Communities Across America Celebrate National Charter Schools Week The Alliance has compiled a timeline of charter school activities going on this week. 

Here are some of the highlights:  

  • Arizona - Students Offer Advice for President Obama
    An 80-page full-color book highlighting charter accomplishments over the past 15 years and advice for President Obama is being produced this week and will be sent to President Obama.
  • Georgia - Statement by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson:
    “Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are open to all students. Educators, community leaders, business people and parents who start charter schools select the curriculum, philosophies and emphases of the schools, such as a back-to-basics foundation, technology focus or school-to-work approach.  The start-up nature of many charter schools means they typically operate with strong community support and involvement while seeking to provide teachers with a positive teaching environment.”
    Read the full statement here.
  • Michigan - Governor’s Tribute to Charter Schools, Lansing
    Governor Granholm formally recognized National Charter Schools Week and conducting a tribute to schools that have been in operation for 15 years. 
  • Nevada -  Governor Gibbons hosted a luncheon with school administrators while the Nevada Charter Schools Association hosted a statewide essay project: “What My Charter School Provides Me,” and the Second Annual Charter School Summit, Carson City
  • Oregon - Charter Schools Day at the State Capitol, Salem
    Charter schools will be recognized at the beginning of each General Session. This will be followed by a celebration cake and rally on the west steps of the Capitol at noon. Student art work and charter school information will be on display throughout the day in the Capitol Galleria. 
  • S. Carolina - NCSW Activities All Week, Statewide
    The SCAPCS is launching its Institute for Charter School Excellence, highlighting charter school innovations with the media and celebrating the record number of charter school applications in the state.

House of Representatives Passes Resolution Recognizing National Charter Schools Week

House Resolution 382 recognizes the 10th annual National Charter Schools Week held May 3-9, 2009 and the significant impacts, achievements and innovations of charter schools. By passing this resolution, the House shows its support for the students, parents, administrators and teachers across the United States working to strengthen public education through the development of high-quality charter schools and calls on the people of the United States to demonstrate support for charter schools as well. 

Co- sponsors of the resolution are:
Democrats: Shelley Berkley (D-NV 1st), Betsy Markey (D-CO 4th), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC At Large), Rush Holt (D-NJ 12th), George Miller (D-CA 7th), Tom Perriello (D-VA 5th), Ron Kind (D-WI 3rd), Patrick Murphy (D-PA 8th), Jared Polis (D-CO 2nd)

Republicans: Michelle Bachmann (R-MN 6th), Mike Coffman (R-CO 6th), Buck McKeon (R-CA 25th), John Boehner (R-OH 8th), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI 3rd), Pete Olson (R-TX 22nd), Charles Boustany (R-LA 7th), Virginia Foxx (R-NC 5th), Thomas Petri (R-WI 6th), Anh Cao (R-LA 2nd), Peter Hoekstra (R-MI 2nd), Glenn Thompson (R-PA 5th), Bill Cassidy (R-LA 6th), John Kline (R-MN 2nd), Frank Wolf (R-VA 10th), Michael Castle (R-DE At Large), Doug Lamborn (R-CO 5th), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT 3rd), Patrick McHenry (R-NC 10th)

Click here to read the full resolution. 

Champions for Charters Honored, Tuesday May 5th

Annually, the Alliance recognizes public officials for their leadership and outstanding contributions to the development of high-quality public charter schools, with the Champion for Charters Award.

The 2009 award winners are: Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM), Cumberland, Rhode Island Mayor Daniel McKee (D) and Georgia State Representative Jan Jones (R-GA)

A National Charter Schools Week reception honoring these leaders will be held tonight at 5:00pm in Rayburn House Building, Washington, D.C 

Click here for more information on the honorees.

President Obama Issues Proclamation Declaring National Charter Schools Week

 

Click here to download a pdf version.  

New Data:  2009 National Poll on Charter Schools Released May 4

Three out of four voters (74%) support President Barack Obama's call on states to lift the limits restriction the growth of public charter schools, according to a national opinion poll released today. The survey also finds very strong support for President Obama’s education plan and public charter school reforms.

Read the complete press release here.

Click here to read the poll questionnaire results.

Download the 2009 NCSW Toolkit here!

Take Action: Support National Charter Schools Week

Send a message to elected officials from your state asking them to co-sponsor a National Charter Schools Week resolution recognizing the important and meaningful work public charter schools are accomplishing around the country. Click here to send an e-mail to your representative now.

Celebrate National Charter Schools Week in Your Community

Help us celebrate the parents, students, and leaders choosing charter schools across America. With more than 4,600 schools serving over 1.4 million students, not to mention strong bipartisan support in Congress, there is a lot to be excited about. Get started planning for National Charter Schools Week today. Below are some ideas to help you. 

Spread the Word:

  • Encourage school participation via email and phone calls and during meetings, seminars, statewide annual conference, etc. Offer ideas. Help them understand the benefits to their schools.
  • Distribute National Charter Schools Week 2009 materials to all schools.
  • Create database of activities at participating schools. Post activities on the web.
  • Deliver a list of activities to appropriate state legislators. Encourage participation from key legislators.
  • Help coordinate schedules for those who express interest in participating.
  • Send postcards to key constituents announcing National Charter Schools Week and directing them to the state web site for information about specific activities.
  • Obtain proclamation from governor recognizing National Charter Schools Week in your state.
  • Distribute news releases with statewide angles. Push for coverage by the state’s major media.
  • Consider conducting select editorial board visits.

Plan Events:

  • Lecture by prominent speaker on a key educational issue
  • Debate on major issue reflecting charter leadership, such as character education
  • Charter school tour by the governor and other key political figures
  • Charter tour by the state's top business leaders

Please, let us know what you are planning and how we can help. Write to antwaune@publiccharters.org.

Our work is far from over. It will take a network of students, parents, teachers, administrators and other charter advocates to ensure quality growth of the charter school movement by focusing on what has worked and replicating that success.

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