Empowering Parents Through Quality Charter Schools Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BUCSHON. Thank you, Chairman Kline.

Mr. Chairman, first let me thank Representative Hunter, Chairman Kline, Ranking Member Miller, and others for their hard work and leadership on this legislation.

I rise today as a cosponsor of H.R. 2218, the Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act. Where American education was once a world leader, over the past few decades we are losing our advantage. The Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act will facilitate the development and replication of high-performing charter schools that will help America regain its stature as a leader in educating its citizens.

Charter schools are created through a contract with local education providers that allow flexibility and innovation in educating our children while maintaining the same requirements and accountability of traditional public schools. Charter schools are able to bring innovation and special programming into the curriculum that is uniquely tailored to the needs of their specific student population. This not only allows choice for parents whose children may be better suited for this kind of flexibility, but also can inspire progress in traditional schools by raising the bar and creating greater transparency.

By increasing funding opportunities for the replication of successful charter schools and facilities assistance, H.R. 2218 encourages States to invest in charter schools.

Further, H.R. 2218 supports the evaluation of the impact of charter schools on their students, faculty, parents, and communities to ensure that high-quality education is available for every child and parents can choose the correct venue for their child's education.

In my district in Evansville, Indiana, Signature School was ranked the top high school in the Midwest and the number three charter school in the country by The Washington Post. These rankings were based on data that indicate how well a school prepares its students for college based on Advanced Placement tests or International Baccalaureate completions. Signature School is an example of a high-performing charter school that this legislation aims to replicate.

Replicating schools like Signature School that have a proven history for effectively preparing our children for college is not only in the best interest of students and parents but also in the best interest of the economy. By increasing the number of students that are college ready, we build a more educated generation, more prepared to take on the complex jobs in health care, engineering, science and technology and others that future industries will demand.

With an unemployment rate near 9 percent, educating our students is critical. By increasing our students' access to high-quality charter schools, H.R. 2218 will prepare our children for the high-tech jobs of the future. This is essential if we are to maintain our competitiveness in a global economy.

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