By Bobby Harrison
Daily Journal Jackson Bureau
JACKSON – Charter schools could open anywhere in the state under legislation that passed the House Education Committee on Wednesday.
Under the current charter school law, which was enacted in the 2013 session, charter schools are limited to D and F school districts without the approval of the local school boards. Current law also prohibits students from crossing district lines to attend charter schools, which are public schools that do not have to adhere to many of the guidelines of traditional public schools.
Legislation was introduced in each chamber this session to allow students to cross district lines to attend charter schools.
The legislation allowing students to cross district lines passed the Senate Education Committee Wednesday.
Later in the day, during the debate in the House Education Committee on whether students should be allowed to cross district lines to attend a charter school, Rep. Jarvis Dortch, D-Jackson, offered an amendment to allow charter schools to locate in A, B and C districts without the permission of the local school board.
The amendment had the support of the Republican majority on the Education Committee.
However, House leaders told the Associated Press late Wednesday that language will be stripped from the bill later in the process because it was improperly inserted.
Generally speaking, Republicans have championed a more expansive charter school law, while most Democrats have been leery of charter schools.
Dortch, a freshman, said he opposed the legislation, but if it was going to pass he thought students should be attending a charter school in the district where they reside instead of crossing district lines.
While Republicans in the House Education Committee overwhelmingly supported the Dortch amendment, in 2013 many Republicans opposed allowing charter schools unrestricted in A, B, C districts. It is not clear how the Dortch amendment will be viewed by the full House with more Republicans considered to be friendly to enhanced school choice laws.
Currently, the state has two charter schools – both in Jackson with enrollments of about 110 students each. In order for charter schools to be able to operate in rural areas, the schools must attract students from multiple districts, some say.
“The opportunities available through public charter schools should be open to all of Mississippi, not only heavily populated cities,” Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said in a news release. “Allowing students to cross district boundaries will build capacity for schools in areas like the Mississippi Delta, where parents need options for their children.”
But Rep. Sara Richardson Thomas, D-Indianola, said the answer should be improving the traditional public schools.
“If you would fully fund (the schools) in my district, it would be better for mine, yours and theirs,” she said. “Why can’t we do that for everybody’s children?”
Sen Hob Bryan, D-Amory, said under the legislation, local property tax revenue from a district, such as Amory, could be spent in another county wherever a child opted to attend a charter school.
bobby.harrison@journalinc.com
The post Legislation opens charter schools to more districts appeared first on Chickasaw Journal.