Over the past two months, Mississippi has started taking steps to implement the overhaul of its charter law that it enacted during this year’s legislative session there (an overhaul pushed by a broad coalition of organizations, including NAPCS).
On June 25th, the newly formed Mississippi Charter Schools Association hosted a charter schools forum in Jackson. More than 70 attendees showed up to learn more about what charter schools are, what the provisions in the new law require, and how the authorization process will work in Mississippi. They also got firsthand accounts about starting and running charter schools from operators from Arkansas and Tennessee. Then last week, Governor Phil Bryant appointed three individuals and the State Board of Education appointed the Interim State Superintendent of Education to serve on the seven-member Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board. Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves will soon appoint the remaining three members (the law requires that all appointments be made by September 1st). Once the Board is in place, the law requires it to meet as soon as possible after September 1, 2013 and to send out a Request for Proposals before December 1, 2013. It is great to see the work underway in Mississippi. As in other states, the Association’s and the Board’s actions will be critical to the success of the charter sector in Mississippi. Todd Ziebarth is the senior vice president of state advocacy at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Learn More: Gulf Live: Mississippi charter school advocates form association with law going into effect Clarion Ledger : Gov. Bryant appoints Mississippi charter school board members
Menu
