MS HB443

Creates Section 37-173-16 requiring school districts to adopt policies providing comprehensive dyslexia evaluations for students in kindergarten or Grade 1 who fail dyslexia screeners, and for students in higher grades showing dyslexia-like symptoms based on teacher or parent observation.

Mandates that school districts shall perform comprehensive dyslexia evaluations (rather than at discretion) for students who fail screeners, administered by dyslexia diagnosticians or licensed professionals including psychologists, psychometrists, or speech language pathologists.

Allows parents or legal guardians to request comprehensive evaluations independent of Response to Intervention (RTI) results and requires school districts to pay the cost of subsequent independent evaluations requested by parents.

Requires school districts to accept the diagnosis from an independent comprehensive evaluation by a qualified professional for purposes of determining eligibility for dyslexia therapy programs within the school or for a Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship to other public or nonpublic special purpose schools.

Takes effect July 1, 2017.