Senate Bill 2325 Summary

• Creates the Individualized Education Fund (IEF) Program providing state-funded education accounts for students with an active Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 accommodation plan, with a 2,500-student annual cap on 504 participants.

• Each student's IEF is funded at the Mississippi Adequate Education Program base cost plus the proportionate share of categorical aid programs, with funds usable for tuition, tutoring, curriculum, textbooks, therapy services, online courses, postsecondary education, and other approved educational expenses.

• Parents must agree to provide an organized educational program with measurable annual goals, not enroll the student in public school, and release the resident school district from all obligations; participating students are removed from public school enrollment counts for state aid calculation purposes.

• Requires the Department of Education to administer the program through applications, quarterly fund disbursements, audits, fraud reporting mechanisms, and surety bonds; allows department to deduct up to 3% for administrative costs and remove parents for non-compliance or fraud.

• Mandates PEER to conduct biannual program evaluations beginning in 2018 assessing funding sufficiency, student and parental satisfaction, academic performance, and fiscal impact; participating nonpublic schools remain autonomous and cannot be regulated beyond program requirements.