Dr. John Dixon: Charter Schools, Choice, and Accountability

As the 2026 legislative session moves forward, the conversation around school choice continues to intensify. While much of the focus has been on ESAs and public school transfers, one form of public school choice has quietly served thousands of Mississippi families for years: public charter schools.

In this episode, Grant sits down with Dr. John Dixon, Executive Director of the Mississippi Charter Schools Association, to break down what charter schools are, how they differ from traditional and magnet schools, and who they are designed to serve. They discuss common misconceptions, how charter schools are performing, what accountability should really mean in education, and why parent demand is one of the strongest measures of success.

The conversation also explores how Mississippi’s charter law could be improved, the potential for innovative and workforce-aligned school models, and why expanding high-quality public school options is an important next step in building on the state’s recent education momentum.