MS HB150

Authorizes loan forgiveness for individuals providing instructional or clinical services as licensed dyslexia therapists in public or eligible nonpublic schools under the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Forgivable Loan Program.

Expands the William F. Winter Teacher Forgivable Loan Program to include nontraditional licensed teachers with documented student loan repayment needs employed in critical shortage areas, with a maximum annual repayment of $3,000 and four-year repayment period.

Allows up to 20 students per cohort annually to receive forgivable loans if enrolled in a State Department of Education-approved Dyslexia Therapy Master's Degree program, with no more than five recipients at any time serving in nonpublic schools.

Authorizes the State Department of Education to provide up to $50,000 annually to public school districts meeting specified criteria to support recruitment, placement, and employment of licensed dyslexia therapy professionals and purchase related materials.

Effective date is July 1, 2019.