TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – This week, members of the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives filed bills to expand educational choice in the state. Senate Education Committee Chair Gray Tollison is sponsoring SB 2161, House Education Committee Chair John Moore filed HB 1042, and State Representative Charles Busby filed HB 1044, all focusing on amending the Mississippi Charter Schools Act of 2013 to give more students the ability to attend a charter school.

“Choice is a powerful tool in our daily lives. This Charter School and Education Scholarship Account legislation is a cost-effective and efficient way to give parents the opportunity to select the school that best meets the needs of their children,” said ExcelinEd in Action National Legislative Director J. Alex Kelly.

“We thank Chairman Tollison, Chairman Moore and Representative Busby for working to bring customized education to Mississippi families.”

These bills will be heard in their respective committees on in the coming weeks.

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About SB 2161, HB 1042 and HB 1044:

• Charter schools would be open to any student within the state of Mississippi.
• Conversion charter schools would have the option to lease or buy the school district the facility housing the conversion charter school.
• The legislation offers other technical changes regarding funding, teacher retirement and academic standards.

Background on Charters:

• As defined in federal and state law, charter schools are public schools.
• Like traditional public schools, charters are tuition free and open to all students; publicly funded by local, state, and federal tax dollars based on enrollment; and held accountable for meeting state academic standards.
• Charters are approved, funded, and overseen by a government-endorsed authorizing entity, just as traditional public schools are overseen by a school district.

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