As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: “Board” means the State Board of Education. “Department” means the State Department of Education. “Dyslexia” means a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin, characterized by difficulties with accurate and […]
A parent or legal guardian who applies for a Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship is exercising his or her parental option to place his or her child in a nonpublic school. Each participating parent or legal guardian and student shall adhere to the following: The parent or legal guardian must select the nonpublic school and apply […]
The maximum scholarship granted per eligible student with dyslexia shall be an amount equivalent to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program base student cost. The nonpublic school under this program shall report to the Mississippi Department of Education the number of students with dyslexia who are enrolled in nonpublic schools on the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarships […]
Each local school district shall adopt a policy to ensure that students will be screened by a screener approved by the State Board of Education in the spring of kindergarten and the fall of Grade 1. The component of the screening must include: Phonological awareness and phonemic awareness; Sound symbol recognition; Alphabet knowledge; Decoding skills; […]
To be eligible to participate in the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program, a nonpublic school must: Be a state accredited special purpose school; Provide to the department all documentation required for a student’s participation, including the nonpublic school’s and student’s fee schedules, at least thirty (30) days before the first quarterly […]
The department shall publicize information regarding the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship on the department’s official website. Annually, by December 15, report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives the Department of Education’s actions with respect to implementing accountability in the scholarship program under this section, any substantiated allegations […]
The State Board of Education in conjunction with each nonpublic school and local school board operating under the provisions of this chapter, may: Extend the school day or length of the scholastic year; Develop and establish a curriculum that is consistent with the Mississippi Curriculum Framework in the subject areas of mathematics, social studies, science, […]
Teachers and other school personnel shall be subject to criminal history record checks and fingerprinting requirements applicable to other public schools under Section 37-9-17(2) and (3).
Each school providing instruction to children with dyslexia shall certify to the State Department of Education its student enrollment in the same manner as local school districts. The department shall direct the proportionate share of monies generated under federal and state categorical aid programs to the participating school for serving students eligible for the aid. […]
No liability shall arise on the part of the state based on the award or use of a Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship.
The inclusion of eligible nonpublic schools within options available to Mississippi public school students does not expand the regulatory authority of the state, its officers, or any school district to impose any additional regulation of nonpublic schools beyond those reasonably necessary to enforce requirements expressly set forth in this chapter.
The Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program is established to provide the option to attend a public school other than the one to which assigned, or to provide a scholarship to a nonpublic school of choice, for students with a diagnosis of dyslexia. Students in Grades 1 through 12 who have been […]
Parents or legal guardians may exercise the option to remove their child from a traditional public school setting to be enrolled in a public or nonpublic school which meets the standards for appropriate specific instruction designed to meet the unique learning needs of young dyslexic students. The objectives of such school shall be: To emphasize […]
A student is not eligible for a Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship while he or she is: Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of providing educational services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice commitment programs; Participating in a homeschool education program; Participating in a virtual school, correspondence school, or distance learning program that […]
The parent or legal guardian is not required to accept the offer of enrolling in another public school in lieu of requesting a Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship to a nonpublic school. However, if the parent or legal guardian chooses the public school option, the student may continue attending a public school chosen by the parent […]
