California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent ResolutionNo. 144


Introduced by Assembly Member Olsen

May 5, 2014


Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 144—Relative to California Charter Schools Week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 144, as introduced, Olsen. California Charter Schools Week.

This measure would proclaim May 5, 2014, to May 11, 2014, inclusive, to be California Charter Schools Week, and would state that the Legislature joins the California Charter Schools Association in congratulating charter schools for the accomplishments and contributions they have made to public education.

Fiscal committee: no.

P1    1WHEREAS, In the 2013-14 academic year, 104 new charter
2schools opened their doors across the state, helping to create new
3jobs and opportunities for educators and other professionals in
4California; and

5WHEREAS, Charter schools are public schools that increase
6learning opportunities for all pupils and provide parents and pupils
7with expanded choices within the public school system; and

8WHEREAS, There are 1,130 charter schools operating in
9California, the highest number of any state in the nation; and

10WHEREAS, Charter schools have a combined enrollment of
11over 519,000 pupils, representing 8.4 percent of the public school
12pupil population in the state; and

P2    1WHEREAS, In 1992, California was the second state in the
2nation to establish charter schools; and

3WHEREAS, Charter schools serve as beacons of innovation
4and produce effective models of education, of significance to all
5public schools; and

6WHEREAS, Many charter schools are designed specifically to
7serve children from traditionally disadvantaged communities; and

8WHEREAS, Charter schools have made dramatic gains in
9accelerating the closing of the achievement gap for those
10underserved populations, increasing the graduation rate and
11improving college readiness; and

12WHEREAS, Charter schools create new professional
13opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be
14responsible for the learning program at the schoolsite; and

15WHEREAS, Charter schools offer a variety of learning
16environments and emphases, including college-preparedness, career
17technical education, arts, and sciences; and

18WHEREAS, Charter schools play an integral role in California’s
19public education system, the communities in which they operate,
20the families they serve, and the pupils’ lives they impact; now,
21therefore, be it

22Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
23thereof concurring,
That the Legislature proclaims May 5, 2014,
24to May 11, 2014, inclusive, to be California Charter Schools Week,
25and joins the California Charter Schools Association in
26congratulating charter schools for the accomplishments and
27contributions they have made to public education; and be it further

28Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
29of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.



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