Senator Wayne Kuipers 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 today honors Michigan Senator Wayne Kuipers for supporting high-quality public charter schools. Senator Kuipers 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.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100428/DC95221LOGO)

"Senator Kuipers has consistently supported the creation of high-quality charters throughout his legislative career," said Nelson Smith, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. "The Alliance is proud to recognize Senator Kuipers as a true champion for the charter school movement."  

"Charter schools can give families ways to take their kids out of failing schools and put them in schools that perform," Kuipers said. "There is no reason for students to be trapped in failing schools when there are successful charter school models, and I am grateful to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools for their work to make more high-quality charter schools available for more families."

Kuipers led an effort to lift the cap on charter schools and was instrumental in building bipartisan support of charter schools in December 2009.  His support and leadership has led to countless new public education opportunities for children throughout the state.  

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.

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

• U.S. Representative Jared Polis (D-Colo.)
• Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana (R)
• 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.

National Charter Schools Week celebrates the theme "Promoting Innovation & Excellence."  Public charter school supporters around the nation are hosting and participating in numerous activities to mark the movement's success and growth.  

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

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