House Bill 888

AN ACT ENTITLED THE "MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT OF 2012"; TO DECLARE THE LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT; TO PROHIBIT CONVERSION OF PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE OPEN ENROLLMENT AND LOTTERY REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE PREFERENCES FOR STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN THE CASE OF A CONVERSION CHARTER SCHOOL AND FOR SCHOOLS SERVING SPECIAL POPULATIONS; TO REQUIRE ALL SCHOOLS IN THE STATE TO ACCEPT TRANSFER CREDITS FROM PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO DEFINE THE ELIGIBLE AUTHORIZER FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS AUTHORIZER BOARD AND PRESCRIBE ITS MEMBERSHIP; TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS AUTHORIZER BOARD; TO PRESCRIBE AUTHORIZER POWERS AND DUTIES; TO PROVIDE STANDARDS FOR AUTHORIZING PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS WHICH SHALL BE POLICIES EQUAL TO NATIONALLY ESTABLISHED BEST PRACTICES; TO PROVIDE FOR AUTHORIZER FUNDING AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST; TO AUTHORIZE SERVICES TO BE PURCHASED FROM THE AUTHORIZER; TO PRESCRIBE THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ALL TYPES OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND A DECISION-MAKING PROCESS; TO ESTABLISH AN INITIAL CHARTER TERM; TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR EXECUTING CHARTER CONTRACTS; TO PROVIDE ACHIEVEMENT AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS FOR CHARTER SCHOOL OVERSIGHT AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR RENEWALS AND REVOCATIONS OF CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACTS; TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR CHARTER SCHOOL CLOSURE AND DISSOLUTION; TO PRESCRIBE THE LEGAL STATUS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO EMPOWER CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH FINANCIAL AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT ITS CONTRACT AND TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AND THE CHARGING OF TUITION; TO PRESCRIBE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF EMPLOYEES OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND REQUIRE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR SUCH EMPLOYEES; TO AUTHORIZE EQUAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING UNDER THE ADEQUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO AUTHORIZE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO ACCEPT GIFTS, DONATIONS AND GRANTS; TO AUTHORIZE CHARTER SCHOOLS EQUAL ACCESS TO EXISTING STATE FACILITIES PROGRAMS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS; TO AUTHORIZE CHARTER SCHOOLS THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO VACANT SCHOOL FACILITIES AND PROPERTY AND THE USE OF DONATED SPACE UNDER PREEXISTING ZONING REGULATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXEMPT TEACHERS, INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS FROM THE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS OF TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE EMPLOYEES AND ADMINISTRATORS OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS TO SUBMIT TO CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND FINGERPRINTING; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURES LAW SHALL NOT APPLY TO TEACHERS OR ADMINISTRATORS AT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 37-165-1 THROUGH 37-165-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH ARE THE "CONVERSION CHARTER SCHOOL ACT OF 2010"; TO AMEND SECTION 37-165-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 37-151-7 AND 37-57-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• John L. Moore

  Sponsor

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

In the House of Representatives Feb 20 – Mar 15

1. Feb 20Referred to the House committee on Education
2. Feb 29Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Mar 13Tabled in the House, subject to being called up again
4. Mar 15Died on the calendar in the House