Mississippi House Bill HB60

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/4/23
• Refer: 1/4/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Charter schools; require MAEP funds to be transferred to student's home school district when student disenrolls.

Impact

The implementation of HB 60 is anticipated to significantly affect the funding dynamics between charter schools and local school districts. When a student disenrolls from a charter school, the bill mandates that the school must return a portion of the received state funding that corresponds to the remaining time the student would have been enrolled. This adjustment could lead to improved financial stability for home school districts, allowing them to redirect resources towards students returning from charter institutions.

Summary

House Bill 60 amends Section 37-28-55 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 to establish a requirement for charter schools to transfer a proportionate amount of adequate education program funding to a student's home school district upon the student’s disenrollment. This provision is aimed at ensuring that funding follows the student, thereby reinforcing accountability and equity in education financing. The bill specifies the calculations necessary for determining the monetary transfer, relating to the number of months remaining in the school year after disenrollment.

Contention

While the bill is largely aimed at creating a more equitable funding system, it has sparked debate among educators and policymakers. Proponents argue that it promotes responsible financial practices and reduces potential overfunding of charter schools for students who leave before the school year concludes. Conversely, opponents express concern that this may place additional financial strain on charter schools, especially those with fluctuating enrollment numbers. Stakeholders fear this could impact the quality of education offered by charter schools, as they rely on stable funding to operate effectively.