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U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings celebrated National Charter Schools Week, May 1-7, with a visit today to The Kipp Academy in New York. Spellings's visit is part of a national effort to highlight the contributions of public charter schools. Other senior Department officials are visiting charter schools around the country to mark the week.

"We know that real reform cannot take hold without innovation and leadership," said Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, "and it is in this respect that charter schools benefit the entire public education system -- by serving as education improvement laboratories."

This year marks the 13th anniversary of the opening of the first charter school. Since then, over 3,300 charter schools have opened in 40 states and the District of Columbia and they educate nearly one million students.

Charter schools are independent public schools designed and operated by parents, educators, community leaders, education entrepreneurs and others with a contract, or charter, from a public agency, such as a local or state education agency or an institution of higher education, among others. Charter schools are operated free-of-charge and are open to all students. These schools provide enhanced education choices for parents within the public school system. Exempt from many statutory and regulatory requirements, charter schools receive increased flexibility in exchange for high accountability for improving student academic achievement.

Throughout this week, charter schools will host open houses and welcome the public to visit, learn and experience some of the activities charter schools offer.

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