Senate Bill 2029 Summary

• Amends Mississippi's Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship Program to allow students with dyslexia in grades 1-12 to attend public schools in adjacent districts or nonpublic schools accredited by state, regional or national organizations.

• Requires parent or legal guardian to be a Mississippi resident and provide 30 days' notice before first scholarship payment; establishes that public school choice within a district includes district-provided transportation.

• Permits nonpublic schools participating in the program to be located in adjacent states if parent verifies in writing that appropriate services cannot be obtained within 30 miles of their legal residence or if serving educable children.

• Directs public school districts to provide age-appropriate and condition-appropriate dyslexia therapy services on a first-come, first-served basis subject to available funding, delivered by certified dyslexia therapists or International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC) accredited graduates.

• Allows dyslexia therapy services to be provided by adjacent school districts with reimbursement from the student's home district; places screening and evaluation results in student's cumulative file; permits private accounting firms to audit school financial records instead of requiring State Auditor.