Mississippi Public Charter Schools Act of 2012 - Bill Summary

• Establishes the Mississippi Public Charter Schools Act of 2012 to create and authorize public charter schools as part of the state's public education system with exemptions from certain state regulations in exchange for performance accountability.

• Creates the Mississippi Public Charter School Board as an independent state agency with five members appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House to authorize start-up charter schools statewide, while the State Board of Education authorizes conversion charter schools and local school boards may authorize charter schools within their districts.

• Requires charter schools to accept all students through open enrollment and lottery systems without discrimination based on race, disability, or other protected categories, while maintaining at-risk student enrollment compositions within 25% of district demographics.

• Exempts public charter school teachers and administrators from state teacher and administrator licensure requirements but requires criminal background checks, fingerprinting, and compliance with specific employment procedures and labor laws.

• Provides funding to charter schools through per-pupil allocations of state adequate education program funds and local ad valorem tax revenues, with authorizers receiving 3% of per-pupil allocations for oversight costs.