JACKSON — A bill to expand charter schools in Mississippi easily cleared the Senate on Wednesday, and attention shifts to the House for the second year.
In a 31-17 vote, the bill had two Democratic supporters but no Republican opponents. The vote came after more than three hours of debate and a day after Senate Bill 2189 was introduced and passed by the Senate Education Committee.
Charter schools are public schools that agree to meet certain standards in exchange for freedom from regulations. Mississippi has a charter school law that allows a small number of existing schools to convert to charters, but none have done so.
Wednesday, the Center for Education Reform, a pro-charter group based in Washington, D.C., called Mississippi’s existing law the “worst charter law in the country.”
Proponents say charter schools can improve achievement in Mississippi. “I think more than anything this is about closing the achievement gap in our state,” said Senate Education Committee Chairman Gray Tollison. The Oxford Republican wrote SB 2189.
Opponents, though, fear charters will weaken traditional schools by skimming motivated students and money. “The overriding concern is what is going to happen to school districts when you start separating students out,” said Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory.
A seven-member board would approve charter schools and oversee them, with three members appointed by the governor, three members appointed by the lieutenant governor and one member appointed by the state superintendent.
The bill would give districts rated “A” or “B” a veto over whether charters can locate there, while “C” and lower-rated districts wouldn’t get a veto. Students would be allowed to cross district lines to enroll in charter schools, and a local tax contribution from the home district would go with charter students, as well as state aid.
No House bills regarding charter schools had yet been introduced as Wednesday evening. But many House members favor allowing C-rated districts to have vetoes as well, and House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, has said the House bill will be limited to 15 charters a year.
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, also a Republican, fought to deny vetoes to C districts last year. He said after the vote Wednesday it is important to have a law “that allows for the largest number of students possible having a public charter school option.” But he didn’t rule out a compromise.
Supporters Wednesday included two black Democrats, Sampson Jackson of Preston and Willie Simmons of Cleveland. Simmons said Tollison made changes that won his vote. He said the charter school law might dovetail with Simmons’ proposal to create a model school in Sunflower County to bolster parent involvement and social services for students.
“It will give them an option at the local level if they desire to utilize the charter school option,” Simmons said after the vote.
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