Mississippi

Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program

  • Voucher
  • Enacted 2012
  • Launched 2012

Mississippi has the nation’s only school choice program created exclusively for students with dyslexia. The program allows children with dyslexia to receive vouchers to attend nonresident public schools or accredited nonpublic schools that provide dyslexia therapy.

We do not administer this program.

Eligibility Test Apply

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  • 246

    Participating Students (2024–2025)

  • 4%

    of Students Eligible Statewide

  • 5

    Participating Schools (2024–2025) 

  • $6,695

    Average Voucher Value (2024–2025) 

  • 60%

    Value as a Percentage of Public School Per-Student Spending

Mississippi’s Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program Participation

Students Participating
School Year Ending
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Student Funding

Use of Funds

Funds for the program can be used for students with a diagnosis of dyslexia to attend state-approved private schools that emphasize instruction in dyslexia intervention. Students may also participate in Mississippi’s dyslexia’s program to attend a nonresident public school The voucher is not available to fund homeschooling, virtual schools, or students in juvenile detention schools.

Funding Amount and Source

The Mississippi legislature funds this program through the state aid formula. Any qualifying Mississippi K–12 student that wishes to participate may receive funding. The maximum voucher amount is equal to the Mississippi Student Funding Formula base student cost, i.e., the total state and local per-student funding amount provided to public schools for a student with no additional measure needs or special factors. Funds for the scholarship are paid from state aid. Parents are responsible for paying the difference if the costs exceed the amount of the scholarship. The State Department of Education shall disburse payments to participating schools under this program in 12 substantially equal installments, with the initial payment made after the department verification of admission acceptance.

(Last updated July 15, 2024) 

Student Eligibility

Students must be in first through 12th grade and have been screened properly and diagnosed with dyslexia by a licensed psychometrist, psychologist, or speech language pathologist.   

(Last updated July 15, 2024) 

EdChoice Expert Feedback

Mississippi’s voucher program for students with dyslexia helps hundreds of students access schools that are the right fit for them, but policymakers could do much more to expand educational opportunity.  Eligibility for the vouchers is limited to students who have been diagnosed with dyslexia, making it one of the most restrictive educational choice programs in the nation. Less than five percent of Mississippi students are eligible for a scholarship and less than one percent of students statewide actually use one of Mississippi’s three educational choice programs (including the Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Program and the Nate Rogers Scholarship for Students with Disabilities).  The average voucher size is about $5,800, which is about three-fifths of the average expenditure per student at Mississippi’s district schools.   To expand access to educational choice, Mississippi policymakers should expand eligibility to all students.  Mississippi’s voucher program generally avoids unnecessary and counterproductive regulations.  (Last updated December 18, 2023) 

Rules and Regulations

Program Guidelines

  • Income Limit: None
  • Prior Year Public School Requirement: Yes, With Exceptions
  • Enrollment Cap: None
  • Voucher Cap: $9,614
  • Testing Mandates: None
  • Special Needs Pathway: Pathway

Participant and Family Guidelines

  • Click Here for the Program Administrator’s Parent Handbook
  • Education Requirements: Have proper dyslexia screening conducted
  • Parent Supplemented Funds/Scholarships: Allowed
  • Miscellaneous:
    • The parent must select the nonpublic school and apply for the admission of his or her child.
    • The parent must have requested the scholarship at least thirty days before the date of the first scholarship payment.
    • Any student participating in the program must remain in attendance throughout the school year unless excused by the school for illness or other good cause.
    • The parent and student agree to comply with the nonpublic special purpose school’s published policies.

Education Provider Guidelines

  • Accreditation/Approval: Be accredited by the Mississippi Department of Education as a special purpose nonpublic school
  • Employment Standards:
    • Have Mississippi Department of Education-licensed dyslexia therapists or individuals participating in an approved training program (resulting in MDE licensure) to provide dyslexia therapy to students diagnosed with dyslexia
    • Conduct background checks on teachers and other school personnel
  • Nondiscrimination: Federal
  • Calendar/Curriculum/Attendance:
    • Use daily Orton-Gillingham-based therapy
    • Use a state-approved dyslexia screener provided by the district for enrollment purposes
  • Financial: Submit annual audits of financial records by the state auditor
  • Miscellaneous:
    • Accountability to the parents in the form of written documentation of the student’s progress
    • Provide the state all documentation required for a student’s participation at least thirty days before the first quarterly scholarship payment
    • Have school leadership trained in dyslexia
    • Maintain a physical location within Mississippi where a scholarship student regularly attends classes

(Last updated December 18, 2024)

Governing Statutes

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 37-173-1 through 29

(Last updated July 15, 2024)