08-R214
2008 -- S 2996
Enacted 05/08/08
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MAY 8,
2008 AS "CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL DAY IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND"
Introduced By: Senators
Issa, Moura, Jabour, and Cote
Date Introduced: May 08,
2008
WHEREAS,
Since the 1995 passage of Rhode Island’s charter public schools enabling
legislation,
11 start-up institutions have been established serving over 3100 students from
31
communities,
with approximately 2500 of those students or 80% 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 3600 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 Teaching and Learning (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
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 the Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
hereby
proclaims May 8, 2008 as “Charter Public School Day”, 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 principals/director’s of Rhode
Island’s 11
charter
public schools.
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LC02863
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