06-R 239

2006 -- S 3066

Enacted 05/02/06

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 1-5, 2006 AS "CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Gibbs, Blais, Lenihan, Sosnowski, and Algiere

Date Introduced: May 02, 2006

     WHEREAS, Since the 1995 passage of Rhode Island's charter public schools enabling

legislation, 11 start-up institutions have been established serving over 2,500 students from 26

communities, with approximately 1,900 of those students, or 76%, classified as "at risk"; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island charter public schools are demonstrating great success in

serving students from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly in our urban centers; and

     WHEREAS, All Rhode Island charter public schools are classified as either moderately

or high performing; and

     WHEREAS, There is a growing demand for Rhode Island public charter schools as

evidenced by a waiting list of over 1,500 students seeking enrollment; and

     WHEREAS, Charter public schools encourage parental and community involvement in

the education of our youth and provide Rhode Islanders with their only public school choice

option; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island charter public schools are required to participate in all state

mandated assessments, the School Accountability for Learning and Teaching (SALT) process, are

subject to all financial reporting requirements which include participation in the In$ite program,

and are required to file quarterly financial reports to both the Auditor General and the Office of

Municipal Affairs; and

     WHEREAS, Because they are public schools of choice, they are held to the highest level

of accountability…consumer demand; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby proclaims May 1-5, 2006 as "Charter Schools Week" in the State of Rhode Island and

recognizes the achievement of our 11 charter public schools; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to The Rhode Island League of Charter Schools,

and the principals/directors of Rhode Island's 11 charter public schools.

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LC03112

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