Success and Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Act

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Success and Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Act, a bill that strengthens the existing charter schools program while including important reforms for accountability and access.

Public charter schools are an important testing ground for new ideas and innovative practices that can benefit our entire school system. Today's bill supports the expansion of high quality charter schools while making vital improvements to the program to increase oversight and access. While current law requires charter schools to be open to all students, this bill would encourage enrollment and retention of underserved populations like students with disabilities and English language learners. It also enhances charter authorizing practices to include quality controls for student achievement and management.

I applaud the Education and Workforce Committee for working in a bipartisan fashion to bring this legislation to the Floor. I hope that we can apply that same spirit of cooperation to fully reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and improve education for all students in every public school.

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