One of the few other Dem pols in Congress who’s good on this issue is Jared Polis of CO

Rep. Jared Polis' All-STAR Act (H.R. 4330) Applauded by National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

December 16, 2009

Washington, DC - National Alliance for Public Charter Schools President and CEO Nelson Smith issued the following statement on the introduction of the bi-partisan supported All Students Achieving through Reform (All-STAR) Act:

"The Alliance commends Congressman Jared Polis (D-2nd CO) and the 15 original Co-Sponsors (Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-1st NV), Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao (R-2nd LA), Rep. Diana DeGette (D-1st CO), Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-3rd MI), Rep. Jim Himes (D-4th CT), Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-15th TX), Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th NJ), Rep. Ron Klein (D-22nd FL), Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-24th FL), Rep. Chris Murphy (D-5th CT), Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-8th PA), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D- DC), Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-3rd MN), Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-7th CO), and Rep. Tom Perriello (D-5th VA)) for introducing this dramatic new proposal in support of high-quality public charter schools, the All Students Achieving through Reform (All-STAR) Act.

"All-STAR will create an invaluable new competitive grant program supporting the expansion and replication of America's best public charter schools while also driving the next generation of state policies around quality and accountability for all parties involved in the chartering process. Public charter schools have demonstrated real power to close achievement gaps and this legislation will help prepare a generation of students for citizenship and successful participation in the 21st century economy. In addition, it will produce immediate effects in Main Streets across the country as charter schools hire new teachers, finance new facilities, and serve as high quality anchors in economic redevelopment.

"Since replicating a proven model is different from starting a new school, All-STAR establishes a new competitive grant program that will encourage the replication and expansion of our most successful public charters. With this new program and its new resources comes increased accountability -- not just for charter schools, but for all parties involved in the process, including charter school authorizers and for the States that oversee them. By extending the principles of accountability in this way, Rep. Polis has created a new approach that will reinforce quality chartering principles and practices across all levels of government while affording American children new high quality public school options.

"As work around the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 continues to pick up speed, the National Alliance and the entire charter school movement look forward to working with Rep. Polis and his 15 additional original Co-Sponsors in their efforts to ensure this proposal becomes part of the reauthorized law."

To read more about the All Students Achieving through Reform Act, click here.

Read the National Alliance's Letter of Support for All-STAR, please click here.

Please show your support for All-STAR by emailing your Congressional Representatives today in support of the bill by clicking here.