MS HB1321

Expands eligibility for Mississippi Speech-Language Therapy Scholarships to students age 3 and older (previously limited to kindergarten through Grade 6) diagnosed with speech-language impairment by a licensed professional.

Reduces maximum scholarship amount from 100% to 70% of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program base student cost per eligible student.

Removes parents' ability to opt out of mandatory speech-language screening in public schools before the end of Grade 1.

Changes scholarship payment procedures to be made at the same time and manner as adequate education program payments to school districts, rather than based on average daily attendance calculations.

Repeals Section 37-175-9 requiring school districts to make initial eligibility determinations for speech-language impairment under IDEA; allows parents to directly request scholarships for eligible children to attend nonpublic speech-language therapy and intervention schools.