Schwarzenegger Named 2008 Champion for Charters During National Charter Schools Week
U.S. Senator Carper of Delaware, New York City Mayor Bloomberg, and Colorado State Senator Groff also Named 2008 Champions for Charters
Published on May 5, 2008 - 8:40:00 AM

By: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

WASHINGTON, May 5 - For his continuing strong support of public charter schools, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is being named tomorrow a 2008 Champion for Charters. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the leading organization supporting the expansion of quality charter schools, presents the award.

The Alliance's award is given to leaders who:

-- Have championed a major public charter issue or initiative, particularly over the past year

-- Serve as a highly visible public charter school advocate

-- Consistently support public charter schools as a quality school choice option and/or policy

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has consistently fought to maintain the flexibility and accountability in California's charter law that has allowed these innovative public schools to flourish. He expanded the charter facility grant program, which specifically targets low-income communities, and his administration created and implemented a more independent statewide charter school authorizer through the state board of education. As a result of these actions, the number of charter schools in the state has expanded by more than 50% since he took office.

"Improving public education in politically difficult, but Governor Schwarzenegger stands out as a forward-thinking leader who recognizes that America's parents and children deserve to have high-quality public education options," said Nelson Smith, president of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

U.S. Senator Carper of Delaware, New York City Mayor Bloomberg, and Colorado State Senator Groff also are being named 2008 Champions for Charters during National Charter School Week 2008, which runs May 5 through May 9 with the theme "Growing Excellence." Public charter schools around the nation are hosting and participating in activities to mark the movement's success and growth, and are participating in a dynamic video campaign to create and share with state and federal legislators short videos highlighting the success of their schools.

In a Capitol Hill Briefing also tomorrow, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools will release results of a new national opinion survey on public charter schools and a compendium of new public charter school statistics.

Nationwide in 40 states and Washington DC, over 4,300 public charter schools enroll more than 1.2 million public school students. In fall of 2007, 350 more public charter schools opened and an additional 115,000 public school students enrolled in charters.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (www.publiccharters.org) is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high performing charter schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for this large and diverse movement.

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