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Paulsen Amendment Gives Students Greater Opportunities to Succeed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13th, 2011

 

Paulsen Amendment Gives Students Greater Opportunities to Succeed

Amendment Strengthens Bill & Breaks Down Barriers to Help Charter Schools Expand to Meet Their Increased Demand

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Empowering Parents Through Charter Schools Act (H.R. 2218) this afternoon by a vote of 365-54. The bill contains key elements of the All Students Achieving through Reform (All-STAR) Act, which was introduced and co-sponsored by Representative Erik Paulsen (MN-03) in 2009. Today’s House-passed bill includes an amendment authored by Rep. Paulsen which helps successful and eligible charter schools replicate and expand faster by giving them the ability to receive grant money after three years rather than the current five years.

“Our economic future is directly tied to the success of our youngest generations.  It’s imperative that we give students every opportunity to learn and grow regardless of where they live or financial situation,” said Rep. Paulsen. “Currently, an estimated 420,000 students across the country are being kept on waiting lists to attend the school of their choice. My amendment strengthens this bipartisan bill by continuing to break down barriers to help quality charter schools grow to meet this increased demand.

“Minnesota is a pioneer in expanding educational options and choice.  In 1991, we were the first state to pass a Charter School Law and we now have 149 registered charter schools, serving over 35,000 students.  Today over 40 States and the District of Columbia have established Charter School Laws of their own.”

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Korea-U.S. Free Trade Working Group and co-chair of the House Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Rep. Paulsen’s work in Congress, please visit www.paulsen.house.gov.

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