Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-5

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (a) “ Applicant ” means any person or group that develops and submits an application for a charter school to the authorizer. (b) “ Application ” means a proposal from an applicant to the authorizer to enter into a charter contract whereby the proposed school obtains charter school status. (c) “ Authorizer ” means the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board established under Section 37-28-7 to review applications, decide whether to approve or reject applications, enter into charter contracts with applicants, oversee charter schools, and decide whether to renew, not renew, or revoke charter contracts. (d) “ Charter contract ” means a fixed-term, renewable contract between a charter school and the authorizer which outlines the roles, powers, responsibilities and performance expectations for each party to the contract. (e) “ Charter school ” means a public school that is established and operating under the terms of charter contract between the school's governing board and the authorizer. The term “ charter school ” includes a conversion charter school and start-up charter school. (f) “ Conversion charter school ” means a charter school that existed as a noncharter public school before becoming a charter school. (g) “ Education service provider ” means a charter management organization, school design provider or any other partner entity with which a charter school intends to contract for educational design, implementation or comprehensive management. (h) “ Governing board ” means the independent board of a charter school which is party to the charter contract with the authorizer and whose members have been elected or selected pursuant to the school's application. (i) “ Noncharter public school ” means a public school that is under the direct management, governance and control of a school board or the state. (j) “ Parent ” means a parent, guardian or other person or entity having legal custody of a child. (k) “ School board ” means a school board exercising management and control over a local school district and the schools of that district pursuant to the State Constitution and state statutes. (l) “ School district ” means a governmental entity that establishes and supervises one or more public schools within its geographical limits pursuant to state statutes. (m) “ Start-up charter school ” means a charter school that did not exist as a noncharter public school before becoming a charter school. (n) “ Student ” means any child who is eligible for attendance in a public school in the state. (o) “ Underserved students ” means students qualifying as low-income or qualifying for a special education program under Section 37-151-201 .