The Magnolia State has ranked sixth in the nation for its laws regarding charter schools, according to the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools.
The report stated that the list of top 10 was made of states that had both older, maturing charter school laws and newer movements.
“The fact that these states are in the Top 10 speaks to the fact that many existing states continue to strengthen their laws based on what’s working (and what’s not working) and that new states rely heavily on those lessons learned so they don’t repeat the mistakes of the states that came before them,” the report stated.
Mississippi’s score remained at 169 out of 240 points. NAPCS recommends that to raise the score, Mississippi’s law could be amended to include providing charter school authorizer applicants in all districts with direct access to the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board and provide access for funding and buildings.
There were 23 essential components that factored into the score. In the report’s component breakdown, Mississippi was shown to possess nine of the components:
- A variety of charter schools are allowed
- An authorizer and overall accountability program is required
- Transparent charter school application, review, and decision making process
- Performance-based charter school contracts are required
- Clear processes for renewal, nonrenewal, and revocation decisions
- Fiscally and legally autonomous schools with independent charter school boards
- Automatic collective bargaining exemption
- Multi-school charter contracts and/or multi-charter school contract boards allowed
- Access to relevant employee retirement systems
Mississippi is one of only four states with a transparent charter school application, review and decision-making process; and one of only seven states that require performance-based contracts.
Courtney Ingle
