Title 37, Education

(1) The following are the purposes of a charter application:(a) To present the proposed charter school’s academic and operational vision and plans;(b) To demonstrate the applicant’s capacities to execute the proposed vision and plans; and(c) To provide the authorizer a clear basi…

(1) In reviewing and evaluating charter applications, the authorizer shall employ procedures, practices and criteria consistent with nationally recognized principles and standards for quality charter authorizing. The application review process must include thorough evaluation of …

(1) The authorizer shall grant an initial charter to each qualified applicant for a term of five (5) operating years. The term of the charter shall commence on the charter school’s first day of operation. An approved charter school may delay its opening for one (1) school year in…

(1) A charter school must be open to:(a) Any student residing in the geographical boundaries of the school district in which the charter school is located; and(b) Any student who resides in the geographical boundaries of a school district that was rated “C,” “D” or “F” at the tim…

If a student previously enrolled in a charter school enrolls in another public school in this state, the student’s new school must accept credits earned by the student in courses or instructional programs at the charter school in a uniform and consistent manner and according to t…

A school district must provide or publicize to parents and the general public information about charter schools as an enrollment option within the district to the same extent and through the same means that the district provides and publicizes information about noncharter public …

(1) The performance provisions within a charter contract must be based on a performance framework that clearly sets forth the academic and operational performance indicators, measures and metrics that will guide the authorizer’s evaluations of the charter school. The performance …

(1) The Legislature finds and declares that the general purposes of the state’s charter schools are as follows:(a) To improve student learning by creating high-quality schools with high standards for student performance;(b) To close achievement gaps between high-performing and lo…

(1) The authorizer shall monitor annually the performance and legal compliance of each charter school it oversees, including collecting and analyzing data to support the school’s evaluation according to the charter contract. The authorizer may conduct or require oversight activit…

(1) A charter may be renewed for successive five-year terms of duration. The authorizer may grant renewal with specific conditions for necessary improvements to a charter school and may lessen the renewal term based on the performance, demonstrated capacities and particular circu…

(1) Before implementing a charter school closure decision, the authorizer must develop a charter school closure protocol to ensure timely notification to parents, orderly transition of students and student records to new schools, and proper disposition of school funds, property a…

(1) Before October 1 of each year, beginning in the year that the state has had at least one (1) charter school operating for a full school year, the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board shall issue to the Governor, Legislature, State Board of Education and the public an a…

(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, to the extent that any provision of this chapter is inconsistent with any other state or local law, rule or regulation, the provisions of this chapter govern and are controlling. (2) A charter school and any education serv…

(a) A charter school may exercise those powers necessary for carrying out the terms of its charter contract, including the following powers:(a) To receive and disburse funds authorized by law for school purposes;(b) To secure appropriate insurance and to enter into contracts and …

(1) A charter school may not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, disability, national origin or any other category that would be unlawful if done by a noncharter public school. (2) A charter school may not engage in any sectarian practices in …

(1) Charter schools are subject to the same civil rights, health and safety requirements applicable to noncharter public schools in the state, except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter. (2) Charter schools are subject to the student assessment and accountability r…

(1) (a) Charter schools must comply with applicable federal laws, rules and regulations regarding the qualification of teachers and other instructional staff. No more than twenty-five percent (25%) of teachers in a charter school may be exempt from state teacher licensure require…

(1) Charter school teachers and other school personnel, as well as members of the governing board and any education service provider with whom a charter school contracts, are subject to criminal history record checks and fingerprinting requirements applicable to employees of othe…

(a) As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(a) “Applicant” means any person or group that develops and submits an application for a charter school to the authorizer.(b) “Ap…

A charter school is eligible to participate in state-sponsored or district-sponsored athletic and academic interscholastic leagues, competitions, awards, scholarships and recognition programs for students, educators, administrators and schools to the same extent as noncharter pub…

(1) Each charter school shall certify annually to the State Department of Education its student enrollment, net enrollment and student participation in federal programs. (2) Each charter school shall certify annually to the school board of the school district in which the charter…

(1) (a) The State Department of Education shall make payments to charter schools for each student in net enrollment at the charter school, as determined under Section 37-151-207, equal to the state share of total funding formula payments for each student, as determined under Sect…

(1) A charter school must adhere to generally accepted accounting principles. (2) A charter school shall have its financial records audited annually, at the end of each fiscal year, either by the State Auditor or by a certified public accountant approved by the State Auditor. How…

(1) Any monies received by a charter school from any source remaining in the charter school’s accounts at the end of a budget year must remain in the charter school’s accounts for use by the charter school during subsequent budget years. (2) Nothing in this chapter may be constru…

(1) A charter school has a right of first refusal to purchase or lease at or below fair market value a closed public school facility or property or unused portions of a closed public school facility or property in the school district in which the charter school is located if the …

(1) There is created the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board as a state agency with exclusive chartering jurisdiction in the State of Mississippi. Unless otherwise authorized by law, no other governmental agency or entity may assume any charter authorizing function or dut…

(1) The authorizer is responsible for exercising, in accordance with this chapter, the following powers and duties:(a) Developing chartering policies and maintaining practices consistent with nationally recognized principles and standards for quality charter authorizing in all ma…