HB 1194 Summary

• Authorizes public universities, junior colleges, and community colleges in Mississippi to serve as charter school authorizers, operating independently from the existing Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board.

• Modifies charter school law definitions and procedures to accommodate multiple authorizers rather than the sole authority of the state board, including updates to application review, approval, and renewal processes.

• Allows authorized universities and colleges to establish departments or offices to accept charter school applications, enter into charter contracts, and oversee charter school operations under the same standards and limitations as the state authorizer board.

• Permits each authorizer to receive 3% of annual per-pupil allocations from state and local funds for each charter school it authorizes to cover oversight costs.

• Requires each authorizer with operating charter schools to publish annual reports on their charter schools' performance and issue pamphlets containing applicable state and federal laws and regulations by July 1 of each year.