Mississippi House Bill HB1256

Mississippi 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/20/25
• Refer: 1/20/25
• Failed: 2/4/25

Caption

Qualified licensed dyslexia therapy teacher; require State Department of Education to employ and assign one to each county.

Impact

If enacted, the bill mandates that the State Department of Education identify schools most in need of dyslexia therapy, and allocate resources accordingly. Supervisors will be responsible for developing tailored strategies and accommodations, ensuring that students with dyslexia receive appropriate access to educational progress. The focus on providing expert data coaches will also likely lead to enhanced training and awareness among regular classroom teachers about dyslexia and effective instructional techniques.

Summary

House Bill 1256 aims to enhance educational support for students diagnosed with dyslexia by requiring the State Department of Education to assign a qualified licensed dyslexia therapy teacher supervisor to each county. This initiative seeks to improve literacy and reading skills among dyslexic students through targeted interventions and specialized coaching. The bill emphasizes the importance of utilizing data to inform instructional strategies, aligning with national awareness and intervention standards for dyslexia.

Contention

Notable points of contention may arise around the implementation logistics of the program, particularly in terms of funding and resource allocation—highlighted by the bill's stipulation that the program is subject to legislative appropriation. There may be discussions on the adequacy of funding to ensure that all counties can adequately support their assigned dyslexia therapy supervisors and execute interventions effectively. Additionally, there could be differing opinions regarding the best approaches to implementing such educational programs across varied school districts.