Statement from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools on Representative Rahm Emanuel's 'Pell Grants for Kids' Legislation Introduced Today

WASHINGTON, March 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Representative Rahm Emanuel put forward a bold and exciting proposal enhancing public charter school options for school children around the nation. Rep. Emanuel's "Pell Grants for Kids Act" establishes a $300 million competitive grant program to help create and replicate high-quality public charter schools for students trapped in failing public schools.

This new public school choice bill is designed to ensure that the students most in need of an excellent education have the opportunity to benefit from high-quality public charter schools. It encourages the expansion of proven charter school models for these students, while also providing incentives for creating new public charter schools for them.

"Too often, the students most in need of public charter schools are forced to linger on charter waiting lists because of the limited number of charters in their communities. In states and cities across America, tens of thousands of children would be able to enroll in new and expanded schools supported by Representative's Emanuel's bill," said Nelson Smith, President of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. "In Chicago alone, thousands of students would benefit from the program."

Representative Emanuel's "Pell Grants for Kids" would establish grants for new or expanding eligible public charter schools serving students from schools in restructuring or with a graduation rate of 60% or less - including support for facilities, hiring new teachers, special education programs, transportation, technology, and other operations activities associated with the schools' development or expansion.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (www.publiccharters.org) 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.