SB 2919 Summary

• Expands the Mississippi Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship Program to serve eligible students aged three and up (previously kindergarten through Grade 6) diagnosed with speech-language impairments by licensed professionals.

• Allows parents to request scholarships for eligible children to attend nonpublic speech-language therapy and intervention schools, with scholarships capped at 70% of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program base student cost.

• Permits speech-language intervention services to be delivered by speech-language pathologists, certified special education teachers, or other appropriate staff (previously limited to speech-language pathologists only).

• Eliminates parental opt-out provision for mandatory speech-language screening by school districts before the end of Grade 1.

• Repeals Section 37-175-9 concerning initial determination of qualifying eligibility and clarifies criteria for participating nonpublic schools, including state accreditation and demonstration of student progress reporting.