Judge hears challenge to state charter school law

Published 9:05 pm Tuesday, April 4, 2017

JACKSON (AP) — A judge is considering whether he should overturn or uphold Mississippi’s charter school law. Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas heard arguments in a lawsuit Tuesday.

A group of parents argues the law is unconstitutional because charter schools divert property taxes from the Jackson district and the charter schools are not overseen by a local or state superintendent.

The state and others defend the law. They argue the parents don’t have legal standing to sue, that funding is transferred from district to district along with students in other situations, and that there is no requirement to be overseen by a state or local superintendent.

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Thomas is likely to rule on the case sometime after June 21, although any decision is likely to be appealed to the state Supreme Court.