Rule 10-402-1-VIII-1.11 - [Effective until 12/16/2024] Conversion Charter SchoolThe Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board also welcomes conversion school applicants who specifically wish to provide a high quality option for students where a majority of parents and/or teachers and/or school board members of the existing school wish to convert the existing noncharter public school, or where the existing school is undergoing State or District turnaround efforts. Conversion charter schools must have a clear plan for dramatically improving persistently underperforming school cultures, significantly raising student achievement and effectively meeting the needs of at-risk populations, especially students with disabilities. These conversion school applicants are expected to establish strong partnerships with the school community.
Please address the following questions if a conversion school is being proposed.
A.Petition. 1. As Attachment Z, provide the petition signed by a majority of teachers or a majority of parents of students in the existing noncharter public school, or by a majority vote of the local school board, or in the case of schools in districts under state conservatorship, by the State Board of Education.B.Community Need & Support.1. Why is the noncharter public school being proposed for conversion into a charter school?2. What specifically will be done to seek parent and community support?C.Student Recruitment & Enrollment.1. Describe the plan for successfully recruiting, transitioning, and retaining students who are in the existing school or who would be going to the existing school.2. As part of Attachment I, provide the school's policy for giving enrollment preferences to students who reside within the former attendance area of the converted public school. This policy should also provide for the enrollment of students outside of the former attendance zone but within the school district in the event that the school has excess capacity after enrolling resident students. The policy should state lottery procedures for students seeking excess capacity seats if these seats become oversubscribed.D.Addressing the Needs of a Turn around1. Describe how the proposed school will meet the needs of the student population currently attending the underperforming school.a. How will a strong school culture be built?b. How will the proposed educational model ensure the school significantly raises student achievement?2. Provide an accelerated phase-in plan that details how the proposed school would take responsibility for all grades and all existing programs of a school, including programs for students with severe disabilities, English Language Learner programs, and any early childhood education programs.3. Please describe the plan to work with the existing school during the transition.10 Miss. Code. R. 402-1-VIII-1.11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-15.