The Mississippi House passed a bill early Thursday morning that would expand public charter schools in the state. The 64-55 vote came after more than seven hours of debate. The House bill would allow start-up charters in the state (it currently only allows conversions), create a new independent statewide entity to be the authorizer, and provide a solid balance of autonomy and accountability. The Senate passed a broader charter schools bill last week. The House and Senate must now agree on a version to send to Governor Phil Bryant, who during his State of the State address Tuesday reiterated his desire to sign an expanded charter schools law. We’ve been working to get a stronger law passed in Mississippi for many years, and this is an important step forward. However, as Rep. Charles Busby noted after the House vote, “I’m proud we could deliver this for Mississippi children, but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
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