The Honorable John Kline
Chairman, Committee on Education and the Workforce
U.S. House of Representatives
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515

The Honorable George Miller
Ranking Member, Committee on Education and the Workforce
U.S. House of Representatives
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515

Dear Chairman Kline and Ranking Member Miller:

On behalf of the more than 200 chief executive officers who are members of Business Roundtable, I write to express support for H.R. 10, the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act, which reauthorizes the federal Charter Schools Program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Last year, Business Roundtable released a report titled “Taking Action on Education and Workforce Preparedness.”  As part of this report, we recommended that federal, state and local policymakers increase the number of public school options, including charter schools, available to parents and students.  This bipartisan legislation takes an important step toward achieving this goal.

Our nation’s capacity to develop a skilled, prepared workforce is inextricably linked to the quality of our education system.  Innovations, such as charter schools, play a critical role in efforts to improve education and give more of our nation’s children access to the opportunities they deserve.

We thank you for introducing this important legislation and look forward to working with you, other members of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Administration to ensure that H.R. 10 is enacted into law.

Sincerely,

John Engler

JE/dl