Senate Bill 2601 Summary

• Removes the 500-student annual enrollment cap for the Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program, allowing enrollment subject to appropriation instead.

• Changes ESA funding from a fixed amount to the student base amount under Mississippi's total funding formula, adjusting annually with formula changes.

• Eliminates the State Department of Education's authority to deduct up to 6% from ESA appropriations for administrative costs.

• Allows parents, guardians, eligible schools, or educational service providers to request reimbursement for qualifying expenses up to 30 days (or until June 30 if student returns after May 1) after a student returns to public school; remaining funds go to the home school district.

• Requires eligible schools to advise parents of students qualifying for other scholarship programs (Nate Rogers, Dyslexia Therapy) to apply for those instead of ESA and implement an authorization process for nonpublic schools to participate in the program.