HB 369: Mississippi Charter Schools Act of 2013

• Establishes the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board as a state agency with exclusive authority to approve and oversee charter schools, with seven members appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Superintendent.

• Allows the authorizer to approve a maximum of 15 charter school applications per fiscal year, with restrictions on approval in highly-rated school districts unless the local school board endorses the application.

• Requires charter schools to be nonprofit organizations operating as local educational agencies, with 5-year renewable contracts based on performance frameworks measuring academic proficiency, growth, attendance, and operational compliance.

• Charter schools receive per-pupil funding from the state equal to the state share of the Adequate Education Program and must receive pro rata local ad valorem tax revenues from their school district.

• Repeals the Conversion Charter School Act of 2010 and sunsets the entire charter school act on July 1, 2020, unless extended by the Legislature.