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HB 1256

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

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andy Boyd and 4 co-sponsors

Mississippi would require State Department of Education to hire and place dyslexia therapy specialists in each county to improve identification and intervention.

Died In Committee
#education
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Bill Summary · HB 1256

Legislative bill overview

HB 1256 would mandate that the Mississippi State Department of Education employ and assign at least one qualified licensed dyslexia therapy teacher to each county in the state. The bill specifically requires these specialized educators to be credentialed in dyslexia intervention and assigned to work within their respective counties.

Why is this important

Dyslexia affects approximately 5-10% of the population and often goes undiagnosed or undertreated in public schools due to lack of specialized training among educators. Mandating county-level dyslexia specialists could improve early identification and intervention for affected students, potentially reducing long-term academic and social outcomes. However, this also represents a significant unfunded mandate requiring state budget allocation for hiring and credentialing specialists statewide.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal burden: The bill does not appear to include dedicated funding, potentially requiring substantial state budget reallocation or tax increases to hire and employ specialists across all 82 Mississippi counties
  • Rural implementation challenges: Smaller, rural counties may struggle to fill these positions or efficiently utilize one specialist across geographically dispersed areas
  • Scope limitations: One specialist per county may be insufficient to serve all dyslexic students, raising questions about realistic impact versus stated intent

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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