MS HB344

Requires each local school district to submit a petition to the State Board of Education for charter school status for a specialized school serving exceptional children.

Petition must include a plan addressing student learning improvement, proposed performance criteria, and describe involvement of faculty, staff, and parents of exceptional children in development and evaluation.

State Board of Education must establish rules and regulations for charter approval, grant one specialized charter school per district, and require annual reporting on progress toward academic or vocational objectives.

Initial charters are issued for four years and may be renewed for one to four years with approval by majority of faculty, staff, and parents; charters can be nullified by majority vote or if school fails to fulfill charter terms.

Specialized charter school employees are district employees with same rights and benefits; schools exempt from most state regulations and Title 37 provisions except specified statutes related to teacher strikes, student safety, reporting requirements, and federal special education law.