(JACKSON, Miss.) Parent takeovers of failing public schools could be coming to Mississippi.
According to the Mississippi Department of Education, 35 schools are eligible for the first time to be converted to charter schools. A majority of parents must sign a petition seeking conversion.
State officials and charter advocates say they know of no petitions currently circulating. Parents would have to develop a full plan on how they would run the school, which could be difficult for a volunteer group. The state Board of Education would evaluate the proposal and could reject it.
Charter advocates say the conversion process is too difficult and doesn't allow charter schools to start fresh, as some national charter groups prefer.
