Two charter school bills are headed for floor votes. Now is the time to call your representative and senator about these bills. The most recent changes to SB 2161 and HB 1044 make both bills problematic.
To be voted on by the House:
SB 2161, as amended by the House Education Committee, allows students in districts rated C, D, or F to cross district lines to attend a charter school, with local and state funding following the student, and allows charters to locate without local board approval only in districts rated D or F. Ask your representative to VOTE NO unless amended to allow only students in underperforming (D or F) districts to cross district lines to attend a charter school.
To be voted on by the Senate:
HB 1044, as amended by the Senate Education Committee, allows students anywhere in the state to cross district lines to attend a charter school, with local and state funding following the student, and allows charters to locate in districts rated C, D, or F without local board approval. Ask your senator to VOTE NO.
NOTE: The Parents’ Campaign’s position is that only students in underperforming districts – those rated D or F – should be allowed to cross district lines to attend a charter school and A, B, and C districts should retain their current authority to refuse a charter school seeking to locate in their district.
Click here to find contact information for the legislators who represent your school district.
Share the same message with Lt. Governor Reeves and Speaker Gunn:
Lt. Governor Reeves Capitol: 601.359.3200
Speaker Gunn Capitol: 601.359.3300
Other bills to be voted on by the House:
• SB 2158 – Provides for calculation of the MAEP formula using average daily membership (enrollment) rather than average daily attendance. VOTE YES.
• SB 2438 – Provides for the appointment, rather than election, of all school district superintendents. VOTE YES.
Other bills to be voted on by the Senate:
• HB 33 – Revises the definition of “special needs” to include those with an active IEP within the past five years. OPPOSE AMENDMENTS that expand voucher eligibility to students without an IEP.
• HB 458 – Original version of this bill opened the MAEP statute for undetermined amendments; the Senate Education Committee amended the bill by striking original language and inserting the language of SB 2158 – the average daily membership bill. VOTE YES.
Thankfully, HB 29, which would have transferred some authority from the State Board of Education to the legislative PEER committee, died on today’s committee deadline.
Watch for updates on these bills, and as always, thank you for standing up for our kids!
