More students across Mississippi could soon have the option to attend a new charter school in their community. MPB's Alexis Ware reports
Clarksdale Collegiate is one of the organizations working to gain community support as as it moves closer to becoming an authorized charter school. The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board has accepted proposals from groups in Clarksdale, Canton, Magnolia and Drew.
Amanda Johnson is with Clarksdale Collegiate. She says the school will help students in the community be prepared for college.
"The need throughout the delta that students are being prepared to have a choice as college as an option for them when they finish high school so we are interested in being a part of the solution within our community in ensuring that all of our students are ready for college and career," Johnson says.
The state has three operating charter schools and one slated to open. All are in Jackson. None of the four new groups has ever run a charter school before. In Mississippi the process has favored experienced operators in the past.
Tommie Cardin is with the Charter School Authorizer Board. He says he's glad to see the possibility of charter schools expand outside of Jackson.
"Well I think it's significant because it demonstrates that there's interest beyond the Jackson area for the existence of charter schools, and it will afford children in other areas of the state opportunities that otherwise they might not have," Cardin says.
The board will make its final decision on the approval of any of the four proposed schools in September.
