Public policy majors Cortez Moss of Calhoun City, Chelsea Caveny of Hattiesburg and Alex McClellan of Madison said they think lawmakers should support proposals to allow public charter schools in the state.

The students, who all attended public schools before going to Ole Miss, were not speaking on behalf of the university.

Moss said he drew on his own public school experiences when deciding to favor a charter school option.

“I wanted more out of education but had little - or no - money to relocate or go to the private school,” he said. “The students of Mississippi today need a third option.”

The students, who did their own research, had asked the committee for the opportunity to speak.

During the hearing, they fielded several questions about equality and affordability.

“We knew what we were getting into,” Caveny said after the hearing. “I know charter schools are controversial.”

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