Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A new lawsuit seeks to block charter schools in Mississippi, arguing that they violate the state constitution by making school districts share property tax collections with schools they don't control.

Southern Poverty Law Center filed the suit Monday in Hinds County Chancery Court on behalf of seven parents who send their children to Jackson Public Schools. The suit is against the Jackson school district, Republican Gov. Phil Bryant and the Mississippi Department of Education.

Charter schools are operated by private, nonprofit groups. They receive tax money but are operated by a board that's separate from local school districts and from the state Board of Education.

The state's only two charter schools are in Jackson, and a third one is set to open in the city this year.