MS HB1035

Establishes the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program to recruit and fund master's degree students studying dyslexia therapy at Mississippi institutions of higher learning.

Loan awards equal the total cost of tuition, materials, and fees, with out-of-state tuition excluded for nonresidents.

Recipients must work as licensed dyslexia therapists in public school districts or eligible nonpublic schools (maximum 5 recipients) for service to be credited toward loan forgiveness, with option to work part-time at two years for every one year of loan amount.

Permits school districts to receive up to $50,000 annually for recruiting licensed dyslexia therapy professionals and purchasing curriculum materials if they meet requirements including using Orton-Gillingham-based therapy and having trained school leadership.

Authorizes the State Department of Education to accept monetary gifts and donations to fund the program through a special fund separate from the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program, effective July 1, 2018.