Congressman Jared Polis Honored by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools with 2010 Champion for Charters Award

WASHINGTON, May 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools honors U.S. Representative Jared Polis (D-Colo.) today with the Champion for Charters Award for supporting high-quality public charter schools. Congressman Polis will be recognized at a reception marking National Charter Schools Week, May 2-8, in the Capitol Hill Visitors Center, Room 215 in Washington, D.C.

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"Representative Polis stands out as a leader committed to promoting excellence and innovation in public education. He has fought to expand the number of great charter schools by introducing the All Students Achieving through Reform (All-STAR) Act," said Nelson Smith, president and CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. "The Alliance is proud to recognize Jared Polis as a true champion for the charter school movement."  

"We must scale up success and invest in public charter school models that get the job done by closing the achievement gap. Now, more than ever, we need to reform and reinvigorate America's education system so every child has the opportunity to attend a great public school, learn and thrive," said Polis. "It is an honor to be recognized by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, whose work is to make more high-quality public charter schools available to more students nationwide, including those on the ever-growing waiting lists."

The All Students Achieving through Reform (All-STAR) Act of 2009, introduced by Rep. Polis, would establish a new competitive grant program in the Department of Education to encourage and enable successful public charter school models to expand and replicate. This will allow more students in underperforming schools to access a high-quality public education and realize their full potential. At the same time, All-STAR strengthens public charter school accountability, oversight and transparency. 

Annually, the Champions for Charters awards recognize public officials for leading a major public charter issue or initiative, serving as a highly visible public charter school advocate, and consistently supporting charters as a high-quality public school choice option.

Polis joins three other distinguished public officials as an honoree for 2010:

• Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana (R)
• State Senator Wayne Kuipers, Michigan (R-30th )
• Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis (D)

Charter schools are independent public schools that are free to be more innovative and are held accountable for improved student achievement. They foster a partnership between parents, teachers and students to create an environment in which parents can be more involved, teachers are given the freedom to innovate and students are provided the structure they need to learn.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (Alliance) is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high-performing charter schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for this large and diverse movement. More than 1.6 million students attend nearly 5,000 charter schools in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE National Alliance for Public Charter Schools