AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE DEFINITIONS RELATED TO THE MISSISSIPPI CHARTER SCHOOL ACT OF 2013; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW APPLICATIONS TO BE APPROVED FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS RATED "C", UNTIL THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION READJUSTS THE CUT SCORES UNDER THE SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER TO AMEND CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACTS IN ORDER TO APPROVE MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS AND RECONFIGURATIONS AND CONTRACT REORGANIZATIONS WITHOUT CLOSING A CHARTER SCHOOL; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE AUTHORIZER FROM RETAINING A PORTION OF PER-PUPIL ALLOCATIONS FOR ITS SUPPORT AND PROVIDE THAT THE LEGISLATURE MAY FUND THE AUTHORIZER THROUGH SPECIFIC APPROPRIATION; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE AUTHORIZER TO PUBLISH A PAMPHLET, BY AUGUST 1 OF EACH YEAR, INFORMING CHARTER SCHOOLS AND CHARTER APPLICANTS OF ALL EDUCATIONAL STATUTES APPLICABLE TO THE OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER TO LIMIT THE INFORMATION INITIALLY SUBMITTED BY A CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICANT TO THAT WHICH THE AUTHORIZER DEEMS ESSENTIAL; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN APPLICANTS THAT ARE DENIED A CHARTER TO REMEDY THE APPLICATION'S DEFICIENCIES AND REAPPLY BEFORE THE NEXT REGULAR APPLICATION PROCESS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE AUTHORIZER TO ALLOW A CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION TO HOLD A SINGLE CONTRACT AND TO REORGANIZE UNDER A SINGLE CONTRACT WITHOUT RE-APPLYING FOR EACH SCHOOL; TO PROVIDE THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL BE GRANTED A TWO-YEAR DELAY START DATE FOR COMMENCEMENT OF INSTRUCTION OF STUDENTS; TO FURTHER PROVIDE THAT IF THE CHARTER SCHOOL FAILS TO START AFTER TWO YEARS OF BEING APPROVED, IT MUST REAPPLY FOR AUTHORIZATION TO OPEN A CHARTER SCHOOL TO THE MISSISSIPPI CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER BOARD; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH A CHARTER SCHOOL'S UNDERSERVED POPULATION IS COMPARED TO THAT OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TO AUTHORIZE AN ENROLLMENT PREFERENCE FOR CHILDREN TRANSFERRING TO A CHARTER SCHOOL FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL WHOSE CONTRACT IS HELD BY THE SAME GOVERNING BOARD; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS COMPARISONS FOR PROFICIENCY BETWEEN APPLICABLE SUBGROUPS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE AUTHORIZER TO ANNUALLY MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IT HAS AUTHORIZED; TO ALLOW CHARTER SCHOOLS UNDER THE SAME CHARTER CONTRACT TO SUBMIT A SINGLE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVE A RENEWAL CONTRACT OF LESS THAN FIVE YEARS TO APPEAL THE DECISION IN THE SAME MANNER THAT NONRENEWALS AND REVOCATIONS ARE APPEALED; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PRESCRIBE THE TIMELINE AND PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE AUTHORIZER IN ITS DECISION TO CLOSE A CHARTER SCHOOL; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO STREAMLINE REPORTS FROM A CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A NONPROFIT ENTITY THAT IS PARTY TO A CHARTER CONTRACT, INCLUDING A CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION, IS A NONGOVERNMENTAL ENTITY; TO REQUIRE THE GOVERNING BOARD OF A NONPROFIT ENTITY HOLDING A CHARTER CONTRACT FOR MULTIPLE SCHOOLS TO DETERMINE WHETHER EACH SCHOOL LISTED IN THE CHARTER CONTRACT WILL FUNCTION AS A LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY OR IF THE NONPROFIT WILL FUNCTION AS SUCH FOR ALL SCHOOLS INCLUDED IN ITS CHARTER CONTRACT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE NONPROFIT ENTITY HOLDING A CHARTER CONTRACT TO CONTRACT FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND VIRTUAL COURSES FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE CHARTER SCHOOL UNDER ITS CONTRACT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-43, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO STUDENTS DESIGNATED AS ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN ITS SCHOOLS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-45, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE PERFORMANCE CLASSIFICATIONS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY RULE, POLICY, REGULATION OR PROCEDURE ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION UNLESS SUCH WAS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO LAW APPLICABLE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NONLICENSED TEACHERS EMPLOYED IN AN INSTRUCTIONAL CAPACITY TO 50% AND TO EXCLUDE PROVISIONALLY LICENSED TEACHERS AND LICENSED TEACHERS TEACHING OUT OF FIELD FROM THE 50% LIMITATION ON CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHERS EXEMPT FROM LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS; TO PROVIDE THAT CHARTER SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HAVING SATISFIED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINES, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A $6,000.00 ANNUAL SALARY SUPPLEMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-49, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INSERT REFERENCE TO THE MISSISSIPPI CODE OF EDUCATOR ETHICS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-53, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE EACH CHARTER SCHOOL OR CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION TO ANNUALLY CERTIFY INFORMATION NECESSARY TO CALCULATE THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S STATE SHARE OF AND LOCAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-55, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH THE PRO RATA SHARE OF LOCAL FUNDS FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS IS CALCULATED; TO AMEND SECTION 37-28-57, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO ADHERE TO GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AS DETERMINED BY THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD; TO REQUIRE THE STATE AUDITOR TO DEVELOP FINANCIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS, INCLUDING A FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING MANUAL SPECIFIC FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ANNUAL AUDIT OF RECORDS OF NONPROFIT ENTITIES HOLDING A CHARTER CONTRACT FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EACH AUTHORIZER TO DEVELOP A PROCESS OF SHARING RELEVANT INFORMATION TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 37-28-1, 37-28-3, 37-28-17, 37-28-25, 37-28-27, 37-28-59 AND 37-28-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 31-7-1, 37-3-51, 37-17-1, 37-21-3 AND 37-41-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 37-28-5, 37-28-7, 37-28-9, 37-28-11, 37-28-13, 37-28-15, 37-28-19, 37-28-21, 37-28-23, 37-28-29, 37-28-31, 37-28-33, 37-28-35, 37-28-37, 37-28-39, 37-28-41, 37-28-43, 37-28-45, 37-28-47, 37-28-49, 37-28-53, 37-28-55, 37-28-57, 37-28-1, 37-28-3, 37-28-17, 37-28-25, 37-28-27, 37-28-59, 37-28-61, 31-7-1, 37-3-51, 37-17-1, 37-21-3, 37-41-1
Committee Substitute: 37-28-5, 37-28-7, 37-28-9, 37-28-11, 37-28-13, 37-28-15, 37-28-19, 37-28-21, 37-28-23, 37-28-29, 37-28-31, 37-28-33, 37-28-35, 37-28-37, 37-28-39, 37-28-41, 37-28-43, 37-28-45, 37-28-47, 37-28-49, 37-28-53, 37-28-55, 37-28-57, 37-28-1, 37-28-3, 37-28-17, 37-28-25, 37-28-27, 37-28-59, 37-28-61, 31-7-1, 37-3-51, 37-17-1, 37-21-3, 37-41-1
As Passed by the House: 37-28-5, 37-28-7, 37-28-9, 37-28-11, 37-28-13, 37-28-15, 37-28-19, 37-28-21, 37-28-23, 37-28-29, 37-28-31, 37-28-33, 37-28-35, 37-28-37, 37-28-39, 37-28-41, 37-28-43, 37-28-45, 37-28-47, 37-28-49, 37-28-53, 37-28-55, 37-28-57, 37-28-1, 37-28-3, 37-28-17, 37-28-25, 37-28-27, 37-28-59, 37-28-61, 31-7-1, 37-3-51, 37-17-1, 37-21-3, 37-41-1