Erik Paulsen: “This week we celebrate National Public Charter Schools Week. With over 2 million students attending public charter…”

“This week we celebrate National Public Charter Schools Week. With over 2 million students attending public charter schools nationwide, it is important that we continue to create and develop this very important educational option. Minnesota is a leader in developing innovative new ways to educate our children, including being the very first State to allow charter schools 21 years ago. In Minnesota, we have 146 charter schools, and we are now ranked number one in the country for having charter school friendly laws and developing high quality and independent charter school options. Last Congress, we made significant bipartisan support and progress with the introduction of the bipartisan All-STAR Act and passage of the Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act. I'm building on this progress and success by working now to craft additional options that aid in the replication of successful charter schools. America will continue to lead the world in innovation and ideas if our children receive the best education from childhood through graduate school, and all by strengthening charter schools and helping ensure that a child's ZIP code does not determine the quality of education they are able to receive. That is the direction we should go in Congress. ____________________”