House Bill 1237

AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE "PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT"; TO ESTABLISH THE ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS THE STATE'S ONLY AUTHORIZING ENTITY; TO ESTABLISHED THE OFFICE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT BOARD POLICIES APPLICABLE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO PRESCRIBE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS THEY RELATE TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS ACT; TO REQUIRE THE AUTHORIZER TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE SUMMARIZING CERTAIN VISIONS, STRATEGIES, CHARTER STATUS AND PERFORMANCE; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ACCESS AN OVERSIGHT FEE FOR EACH PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IT AUTHORIZES; TO REQUIRE THE AUTHORIZER TO ISSUE AND PUBLICIZE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL; TO PRESCRIBE THE PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH THE CHARTERING AUTHORITY HAS TO REVIEW AND APPROVE OR DENY AN APPLICATION FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL STATUS; TO REQUIRE THAT CERTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED IN CHARTER APPLICATIONS FOR VIRTUAL SCHOOLS, EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDERS AND CONVERSION NONPUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO THE APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION; TO PRESCRIBE CERTAIN PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE CHARTERING AUTHORITY UPON REJECTION OF AN APPLICATION; TO STIPULATE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH A CHARTER EXPIRES; TO REQUIRE THAT CERTAIN PERFORMANCE PROVISIONS BE INCLUDED IN THE CHARTER CONTRACT; TO REQUIRE THE AUTHORIZER TO CONTINUALLY MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE THAT AN APPROVED CHARTER IS VALID FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF FIVE SCHOOL YEARS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE RENEWAL, AMENDING OR REVOCATION OF CHARTERS; TO PRESCRIBE REASONS FOR REVOCATION OF A CHARTER; TO REQUIRE THE AUTHORIZER TO DEVELOP A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL CLOSURE PROTOCOL; TO REQUIRE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS TO BE NONPROFIT EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS; TO PRESCRIBE THE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI RECOVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SERVE AS THE LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY FOR A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL; TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATORY ACTS BY THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL; TO REQUIRE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS TO BE SUBJECT TO THE STUDENT ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS AT CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY 25% OF TEACHERS IN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM STATE TEACHER LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS; TO ALLOW STUDENTS IN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR AND INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROMULGATE RULES ESTABLISHING FEES FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS' PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT NONCHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS; TO REQUIRE A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO CERTIFY ITS STUDENT ENROLLMENT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO REQUIRE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO COMPLY WITH ANNUAL AUDIT AND BUDGET SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED BY LAW IN TITLE 37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972; TO REQUIRE THE STATE TO DIRECT A PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF MONIES GENERATED UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE CATEGORICAL AID PROGRAMS TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS SERVING ELIGIBLE STUDENTS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE TO PAY DIRECTLY TO A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL ANY FEDERAL OR STATE AID ATTRIBUTABLE TO A STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY ATTENDING THE SCHOOL; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO DISBURSE STATE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TO A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN THE SAME MANNER AS IT IS PAID TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO PRESCRIBE THE MANNER FOR CALCULATING THE PER-STUDENT FACILITY ALLOWANCE AND PAYMENT FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS TO FINANCE SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS, GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND REPAYMENT OF DEBT FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, TO ESTABLISH THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITY REVOLVING LOAN FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION, PURCHASE, RENOVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES; TO REQUIRE THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO MAKE AVAILABLE ANY VACANT SCHOOL FACILITIES OR ANY FACILITY SLATED TO BE VACANT FOR LEASE BY A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL; TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO USE CERTAIN OTHER FACILITIES, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO ESTABLISH THE CREDIT ENHANCEMENT FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS TO ASSIST PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN OBTAINING FINANCING FOR ACQUISITION OR CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES; TO PROHIBIT THE NONPROFIT CORPORATION FROM USING THOSE FUNDS TO MAKE DIRECT LOANS OR GRANTS TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Toby Barker

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 18 – Feb 2

1. Jan 18Referred to the House committee on Education
2. Feb 2Died in committee in the House