MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2013 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representatives Byrd, Arnold, Boyd, Carpenter, Haney, Martinson, McLeod, Monsour, Staples

House Bill 672

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-159-53, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI DYSLEXIA EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FROM 10 TO 20; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 37-159-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-159-53. (1)  The Mississippi Dyslexia Education Scholarship Program shall be administered in the same manner as the Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program, pursuant to Section 37-159-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall be incorporated into the Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program for all purposes.

     (2)  Funding for the establishment and continued operation of the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Scholarship Program shall be administered by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning through a special fund established within the Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program * * *, subject to appropriation by the Legislature.  The board may accept and receive monetary gifts and donations from any source, public or private, which such funds shall be deposited in the special fund for the benefit of the Mississippi Dyslexia Education Scholarship Program with the Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program.

     (3)  No more than * * * ten (10)twenty (20) students per cohort shall be selected annually to be admitted into the program for receipt of scholarship funds beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year.  However, scholarships awarded under the program shall be provided only to students who have been accepted into a Dyslexia Therapy Master's Degree Co-hort Program approved by the State Department of Education that provides instructional training as required under Chapter 173, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972, for dyslexia therapy in preparation of those co-hort students for AA licensure by the department.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2013.

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