Jackson Free Press

Recent legislative action indicates that Mississippi will soon have a strong charter-school law on the books. Unlike previous charter laws, which only allowed for the conversion of existing public schools, this new law will also allow for newly created ("new start") charter schools. Because the vast majority of the nation's charter schools—including the majority of successful ones—are new starts, this broader bill is far more likely than previous legislation to produce charter schools in the state.

With the right policies in place, charter schools have the potential to be a boon for children in our state's education system. This is particularly true for children in under-performing schools and districts, who often lack access to better public schools in their district or the means to move to better districts. While we must continue our efforts to turn around under-performing schools and districts, charter schools can provide an immediate alternative for children.

The future success of charter schools in Mississippi rests on the legislative decisions that will be made this year. One of the benefits of creating a charter-school sector later than so many other states is that we can learn from the experiences of others. As many national studies have indicated, a wide variance of success exists among charter schools. These studies also indicate that state policies make a huge difference.

Several states are currently working to fix the flaws in their charter policies that have led to poor performance in their charter sectors. These states have less rigorous processes for approving charters and fail to provide proper oversight once charters are granted. Leniency at the outset also makes it difficult for states to close charter schools that fail to meet their contractual obligations.

We have a chance to get it right from the start. We should model our charter sector after those of high-performing states, where rigorous authorization and monitoring processes prevent weak applicants from ever opening schools. Legislators must commit to requiring these rigorous, evidence-based processes for managing our charter-school sector.

Any charter applicant in Mississippi must be able to articulate a well-designed school plan that explains how the school will heighten academic expectations and close achievement gaps. Our law must also clearly state how charter schools will be monitored and held accountable. These processes will increase the likelihood that our charter sector will be limited to those with the greatest potential for success.

Mississippi's charter-school law should promote the replication of successful charter schools and their practices. Along with providing an alternative for children, advocates often state that charter schools can serve as a "model of success" for public schools as a whole. The idea is that the flexibility charter-school leaders have in managing personnel, budget, instructional methods and school time could spark innovative practices that can produce positive results in public schools across the state. This is an outcome we must achieve.

By partnering with education research and advocacy groups, we can identify the innovative practices used by successful charter schools, while also recommending ways to replicate these practices in a traditional school setting. Commitment to this task could lead to statewide support for a longer school day or school year. It could also lead to changes in how principals recruit, manage and compensate their teachers. If charter schools are to be a true "models of success," we must begin discussing how best practices are brought to scale.

Finally, policymakers must make a sustained commitment to education reform and show equal passion for other, much-needed education-reform initiatives. Many lawmakers and advocates may want to compare the passage of a new charter-school law to scoring a touchdown. The concern is that they will celebrate the accomplishment and then hustle back to the sideline. In reality, we should compare the passage of a new charter law to making a first down. Legislators should follow this vote by staying on the field, ready to make another big play toward improving education, such as an equally strong effort to establish state-funded pre-K or increase access to college-prep courses.

Improving the quality of our state's education system is the most important challenge facing Mississippi policymakers. No significant improvements in our economy, public health and overall quality of life can happen until we first improve our schools. Charter schools can indeed be a part of that effort but only if we commit to establishing rigorous processes, to replicating best practices and to continuing forward progress in education reform.

Let's get this done right, and then let's keep moving.

Starkville native Sanford Johnson is a 2003 Teach For America corps member, and currently serves as the deputy director of Mississippi First. He lives in Clarksdale with his wife Amanda, a KIPP elementary-school teacher in Arkansas, and their 8-month-old daughter Lorelei.