Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — State House members are poised to take up their own version of charter school legislation.

House Education Committee Chairman John Moore said Monday that his panel would take up House Bill 369 Tuesday morning.

The Brandon Republican says the full House could debate the measure Wednesday or Thursday, if it passes committee. The Senate passed a charter school bill last week.

Charter schools are public schools that agree to meet certain standards in exchange for freedom from regulations.

Moore's bill, introduced Monday, would allow broad expansion of charter schools. Current Mississippi law allows a small number of existing schools to convert to charters, but none have done so.

The House bill would limit charters to 15 a year. It would allow districts rated "A," ''B" and "C'' to block charters.