A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE                                 Contact: Melinda Kitchell Malico, September 20, 1997                                   (202) 401-1576                                                       Mikel Morton,                                                       (202) 260-3693

CLINTON ANNOUNCES $40 MILLION IN SUPPORT FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS

Two states, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, and two schools in Hawaii, are receiving first year grants to support start up and development of additional charter schools. Nineteen states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and one school in New Mexico will receive second or third year funding.

Charter schools are public schools under contract -- or charter -- from a public agency to groups of parents, teachers, school administrators or others who want to create alternatives and choice within the public school system. Museums, local businesses and community groups are among the partners involved. The schools are free, open to all, and designed to be publicly accountable, as well as creative, flexible and responsive to student and parent needs.

"More than 420 charter schools nationwide receive federal charter school support to help strengthen public school options, encourage innovation and ensure accountability," Riley said. "While charter schools have until now received bipartisan backing, further support is endangered by the Senate's passage of the Gorton Amendment.

"President Clinton has asked for a boost in funding -- to $100 million -- that would double the number of schools served and keep the charter schools movement alive and well. The Senate's attempt to pull the plug on these critical state and local efforts -- and crucial federal support -- is ill timed and irresponsible."

President Clinton asked Congress for more than $100 million for the Charter Schools Program in Fiscal Year 1998 to provide start up funds for a new round of schools as well as continued support for existing charter schools that face costs associated with start up. The House Appropriations Committee has recommended funding of $75 million (the full House has not voted) and the Senate has effectively eliminated the program, by voting 51 to 49 for the Gorton Amendment to the Labor HHS Appropriations bill. The amendment would "block grant" several K through 12 federal education programs and would force a cancellation of the charter schools competition. The amendment would "choke off" funding for all of these schools and "give it to school districts that do not even have a charter school," Riley said in a recent statement.

The Charter Schools Program is a three year grant program, with states receiving either initial, second or third year continuation funding. Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, a New Mexico school, New Jersey, North Carolina, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are receiving second year grants this year. Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon and Texas are receiving their final year of support to continue charter schools development.

Charter schools supported by the U.S. Department of Education do not limit admissions based on achievement or aptitude. All charter schools must be non sectarian and abide by civil rights, health and safety laws. The schools also must meet standards set forth in their charters for students and the school as a whole, or their chartering agency can close the school.

Under the Public Charter Schools Program, proposed by President Clinton in 1993 and passed into law in 1994 as part of the Improving America's Schools Act, states conduct competitions and award sub grants to provide start up funds for new or recently established charter schools. These funds help pay for planning, design and start up costs areas often identified as critical for successful charter schools.

For instance, the California Department of Education is using its federal grant to address the need for start up funds, and what they have identified as three core components of successful charter schools. The first is an educational program and system that is driven by high educational standards and a powerful assessment. The second is a strong fiscal base, including good business practices and accountability for public dollars. The third is an organizational/governance structure that empowers all participants to work effectively for the success of the school.

Federal support for charter schools already has helped to establish 34 charter schools in California and with fiscal year 1997 funds, California plans to support 42 planning and implementation subgrants.

Charter schools support is being continued this year to fund both the start up and development of more than 900 charter schools in 21 states. In addition, Goals 2000, Title I and other federal funds can be used to support charter schools and to share lessons learned with other public schools.

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NOTE TO EDITORS:

Attached is a list of grantees. President Clinton will announce the award of the Charter School grants at an event at:

(415) 508 7343

FISCAL YEAR 1997 Public Charter Schools Program Grantees New Grants
HAWAII
Honolulu	Waialae Charter School	$90,000
	Contact: Amy Kwock (808) 733 4880
Kailua	Lanikai Elementary School	$149,635
	Contact: Donna Estomago (808) 266 7844
PENNSYLVANIA
Harrisburg	State Department of Education	$1,333,333
	Contact: Tim Daniels (717) 783-9783
SOUTH CAROLINA
Columbia	State Department of Education	$1,447,900
	Contact: Calvin (Chip) Jackson (803) 734-8496

FISCAL YEAR 1997 Public Charter Schools Program Grantees Continuations
ALASKA
Juneau	State Department of Education	$1,516,500
	Contact: Marjorie Menzi (907) 465 8720
ARIZONA
Phoenix	State Department of Education	$3,221,226
	Contact: Kathi Haas (602) 542 5206
CALIFORNIA
Sacramento	State Department of Education	$3,399,959
	Contact: David Patterson (916) 327 5929
COLORADO
Denver	State Department of Education	$2,024,372
	Contact: Bill Windler (303) 866 6631
CONNECTICUT
Hartford	State Department of Education	$1,286,371
	Contact: Yvette Thiesfield (860) 566 1233
DELAWARE
Dover	State Department of Education	$541,302
	Contact: Larry Gabbert (302) 739 4885
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington	District of Columbia Public Schools	$2,063,095
	Contact: Richard Wenning (202) 724 4222
FLORIDA
Tallahassee	State Department of Education	$3,366,026
	Contact: Tracey Bailey (904) 414 0780
GEORGIA
Atlanta	State Department of Education	$1,469,380
	Contact: John Rhodes (404) 657 7627
ILLINOIS
Springfield	State Department of Education	$782,850
	Contact: Sally Vogl (217) 782 0541
KANSAS
Topeka	State Department of Education	$900,000
	Contact: Phyllis Kelly (913) 296 3069
LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge	State Department of Education	$373,711
	Contact: Bill Miller (504) 342 3603
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston	Executive Office of Education	$2,352,362
	Contact: Scott Hamilton (617) 727 1313
MICHIGAN
Lansing	State Department of Education	$3,843,420
	Contact: Gary Cass (517) 373 4631
MINNESOTA
Saint Paul	State Department of Education	$2,183,458
	Contact: Jessie Montano (612) 296 2181
NEW MEXICO
Santa Fe	Turquoise Trail Elementary School	$170,173
	Contact: Nycha Leia Zenderman (505) 471 7282
NEW JERSEY
Trenton	State Department of Education	$1,290,934
	Contact: Dalia Georgedes (609) 292 5850
NORTH CAROLINA
Raleigh	State Department of Education	$1,490,276
	Contact: Grova Bridgers (919) 715 1730
OREGON
Salem	State Department of Education	$779,948
	Contact: Leon Fuhrman (503) 378 5585
PUERTO RICO
San Juan	State Department of Education	$1,313,500
	Contact: Nilda Baez De Morales (787) 765 9772
TEXAS
Austin	State Department of Education	$2,165,167
	Contact: Brooks Flemister (512) 463 9575
WISCONSIN
Madison	State Department of Education	$856,548
	Contact: Thomas Stefonek (608) 266 5728

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