Senate Bill 2401

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 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 PROVIDE THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL CERTIFY AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE AND QUALIFY FOR STATE ADEQUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM ALLOCATIONS ON A PER-PUPIL BASIS; 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 THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO VACANT SCHOOL FACILITIES AND PROPERTY AND THE USE OF DONATED SPACE UNDER PREEXISTING ZONING REGULATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-151-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM THE ADEQUATE EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA TO THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-57-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSFER OF LOCAL AD VALOREM SCHOOL DISTRICT MAINTENANCE FUNDS BY THE TAX COLLECTOR TO THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL ON A PER-PUPIL BASIS; 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 AMEND SECTION 37-13-63, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL COMPLY WITH THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF SCHOOL TERM APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-91, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT STUDENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAW; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 37-165-1 THROUGH 37-165-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH ARE THE "CONVERSION CHARTER SCHOOL ACT OF 2010," AND SECTION 37-167-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH IS THE NEW START SCHOOL PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Gray Tollison

  Sponsor

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentPending

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

In the Senate Feb 15 – Feb 22

1. Feb 15Referred to the Senate committee on Education
2. Feb 21Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Feb 22Committee substitute adopted in the Senate
4. Passed the Senate

In the House of Representatives Feb 22 – Apr 3

1. Feb 22Motion in the Senate to reconsider entered
2. Feb 23Motion in the Senate to reconsider tabled
3. Sent to the House
4. Referred to the House committee on Education
5. Apr 3Died in committee in the House