MS HB1385

Reenacts and makes permanent the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program by removing its scheduled repeal date

Provides scholarships equal to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program base student cost for students in Grades 1-6 diagnosed with dyslexia to attend public schools other than their assigned school or eligible nonpublic special purpose schools

Requires school districts to screen all students for dyslexia in spring of kindergarten and fall of Grade 1, testing phonological awareness, sound symbol recognition, alphabet knowledge, decoding skills, encoding skills, and rapid naming

Mandates that participating nonpublic schools be state-accredited special purpose schools providing instruction by licensed dyslexia therapists using Orton-Gillingham based, multisensory therapy methods

Effective date of July 1, 2015