Frequently Asked Questions About Charter Schools

Charter schools are public, tuition-free schools open to all students in Mississippi. They operate under a contract, or charter, with a government agency that sets academic and performance goals. With flexibility in budgeting, scheduling, and curriculum design, charter schools can tailor education to meet students’ needs, while being held accountable for achieving specific academic and financial targets.

The state’s first charter school, Reimagine Prep, part of the RePublic Schools network, opened in Jackson in 2015. As of the 2024-2025 school year, Mississippi has 10 charter schools operating in Jackson, Clarksdale, Greenwood, Natchez, and Canton. These schools educate over 3,000 students. With charter schools continuing to expand, more families are gaining access to high-quality public education options for their children.

Parents and caregivers in Mississippi strongly support charter schools in their communities. A 2023 survey conducted by the Mississippi State University Social Science Research Center found that 93% of charter school parents support them, while 73% of parents with children in non-charter schools also support charter schools in their area. This widespread support reflects the positive impact many believe charter schools have on local education.

All charter schools in Mississippi must be authorized to open through a rigorous application process. The Mississippi Charter School Authorizing Board (MCSAB) oversees this process, evaluating applications based on school culture, leadership, governance, operations, education, and finance plans. The MCSAB can approve up to 15 applications per year and is made up of seven members: three appointed by the Governor, three by the Lieutenant Governor, and one by the State Superintendent of Education. The State Senate approves all appointments. For more information, visit www.charterschoolboard.ms.gov.

To start a charter school, an individual or group must form a nonprofit corporation and obtain tax-exempt status from the IRS. Any nonprofit can apply to open a charter school. Some schools are managed by Charter Management Organizations (CMOs), which oversee multiple schools and provide services such as hiring, professional development, and financial management. For-profit organizations are prohibited from operating charter schools in Mississippi, ensuring that the focus remains on education rather than profit-making.

Yes, there are two types of charter schools in Mississippi. Start-up schools are newly created and open to students from the district where the school is located or students residing in a school district rated C, D, or F. Conversion schools are existing public schools that convert into charter schools. Students zoned for the original school have enrollment preferences but other students may attend unless interest exceeds capacity. Charter schools may be authorized in school districts rated D or F. School boards in districts rated A, B, or C can veto charter school applications.

Charter schools can operate as single-site schools or as part of a network. Single-site charter schools are managed at one location with a single board of directors. Network schools are run by a Charter Management Organization (CMO), which oversees multiple schools. In Mississippi, RePublic Schools is the only CMO, managing four campuses—Revive Collegiate (elementary school), Smilow Collegiate (elementary school), Smilow Prep (middle school), and Reimagine Prep (middle school)—with one board overseeing all four.

No. Charter schools are public schools, and under the U.S. Constitution, the Mississippi State Constitution, and the state’s charter school law, all public schools must be nonsectarian—meaning they cannot be affiliated with or promote any specific religion. Mississippi First opposes any effort to allow religious charter schools.

Charter schools in Mississippi are nonprofit organizations governed by a local board of directors (as opposed to an elected school board). A typical charter school board is composed of educators, community members, and parents. Some charter schools are managed by a Charter Management Organization (CMO), which manages two or more schools. In addition to its governing board, a charter school is accountable to the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board (MCSAB) and the State Department of Education.

Charter schools are held to the same state standards as traditional public schools, including standardized testing and accountability grades. When a charter school signs a contract with the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board (MCSAB), it is given specific academic and financial goals. The MCSAB monitors and evaluates the school annually. After five years, the MCSAB conducts a comprehensive review to decide whether to renew the charter. If a school fails to meet its goals, violates the charter, or mismanages funds, the MCSAB can revoke or not renew the charter, resulting in the school’s closure. Schools can appeal this decision only to the MCSAB.

Parents choose to enroll their children in a charter school, and any student within the school’s district or a district rated C, D, or F can apply. If demand exceeds capacity, a lottery system may be used. No student is assigned to a specific charter school by a school district. Mississippi law requires charter schools to reflect the local district’s student population in terms of family income and special education rates.

Charter schools must ensure fair and open admissions, reaching out to all segments of the community. They cannot select students based on academic ability, race, or personal characteristics, nor can they require an admissions test. Students are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. If demand exceeds available spots, a lottery is used. Returning students and their siblings are prioritized, with all other applicants admitted through the lottery.

Yes and no. Some charter schools are designed to serve specific populations, such as students with disabilities or those needing extra academic support. While they can focus on particular needs, they cannot restrict admission based on those needs. For example, a school for students with autism cannot require a diagnosis as a condition for enrollment.

 In exchange for greater accountability, charter school educators have more autonomy than in traditional public schools. School leaders can manage the budget, schedule, staff, and curriculum with greater flexibility. For example, they can extend the school day to offer more instruction or create a specialized learning environment, such as a STEM-focused curriculum. High-performing charter schools have used this flexibility to implement innovative practices that lead to significant success.

In Mississippi, all charter school teachers must have a bachelor’s degree and proven competence in their subject area. The rigorous charter authorization process requires applicants to detail staffing plans in their application. Teachers are not assigned by school districts; they choose to apply to charter schools. With strict accountability and high standards, charter schools are motivated to hire only the most effective teachers.

With more autonomy than traditional public schools, charter schools give teachers and administrators the flexibility to adapt curriculum, teaching methods, and classroom management to better support student success.

Mississippi charter schools are publicly funded through local, state, and federal tax dollars, just like traditional public schools. The federal Charter Schools Program grant is the only government funding exclusively allocated for charter schools in Mississippi. Funding is primarily based on student enrollment numbers. As nonprofit organizations, charter schools can also raise additional funds through donations, fundraising, and grants.

Unlike traditional public school districts, charter schools cannot pass bond measures. They do qualify for state facilities programs, but these have frequently not been funded in the last two decades. As a result, charter schools must operate more efficiently and find alternative ways to secure the necessary funding for their buildings and infrastructure.

Charter schools are funded based on student enrollment, so funding follows the student if they switch between charter and traditional public schools. Charter schools are public schools that work to collaborate with traditional public schools, improving education for all students and families.