Bill > HB517

This bill, titled the "MS Charter School Act of 2013," brings forward existing provisions related to the establishment, governance, and administration of charter schools in Mississippi, with the intention of allowing for potential amendments. It outlines the core purposes of charter schools, such as improving student learning, closing achievement gaps, and creating new professional opportunities for educators, while emphasizing that all charter schools are public schools and cannot be formed by converting private schools. The bill defines key terms like "applicant," "authorizer" (the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board, a state agency with exclusive chartering authority), "charter contract," and "governing board," and details the composition and responsibilities of the Authorizer Board, including its mission to authorize high-quality charter schools and its limitations on the number of applications it can approve annually. It also specifies the authorizer's duties in developing chartering policies, evaluating applications, overseeing schools, and making renewal or revocation decisions, and outlines how the authorizer is funded through a percentage of per-pupil allocations. The bill further details the application process, requiring comprehensive plans for academics, operations, student services, and finances, and establishes criteria for approving or denying applications, including provisions for expedited review of applications from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It sets the initial charter term at five operating years, outlines the requirements for a charter contract, and defines enrollment preferences and non-discrimination policies for charter schools, ensuring they are open to all students and cannot limit admission based on protected characteristics. The bill also addresses the transfer of credits from charter schools to other public schools, requires school districts to publicize charter schools as an enrollment option, and establishes a performance framework for evaluating charter schools based on academic proficiency, growth, achievement gaps, attendance, financial performance, and board stewardship. It details the authorizer's oversight responsibilities, including annual performance reporting and corrective actions for underperforming schools, and outlines the process for charter renewal, non-renewal, or revocation, including specific grounds for closure and a protocol for managing school closures. Finally, the bill covers various operational aspects such as teacher qualifications, criminal history record checks for staff, eligibility for interscholastic programs, student enrollment certification, funding mechanisms including state and local payments, financial audit requirements, the use of remaining funds, and the right of first refusal for charter schools to purchase or lease closed public school facilities.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0517.xml