Senate Bill 2681: Dyslexia Therapists in Schools

March 26, 2024May 20, 2024 Bill Tracker

Latest Action

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The Governor did not sign or veto SB 2681 within ten days of its passage, so the bill became law on April 22.

Explanation of the Bill

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The committee substitute for Senate Bill 2681 expands the definition of professionals who can be licensed as dyslexia therapists through the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE). The state currently offers the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program, which allows a student with dyslexia to attend a public or nonpublic school other than the one to which they are assigned in order to receive dyslexia support. In order to be eligible to receive students under this program, a school must employ dyslexia therapists licensed by the department. Through broadening the definition of a licensed dyslexia therapist, SB 2681 could increase the pool of potential dyslexia therapists in schools; in turn, this could increase the number of schools that are eligible for students to attend under the Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship Program or reduce the need for students to transfer schools at all. 

Currently, two groups fall into the definition of MDE-licensed dyslexia therapists:

• Professionals who have completed training in an MDE-approved Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia therapy training program and received an AA license in dyslexia therapy (note that Orton-Gillingham is a leading approach to assist students who struggle with dyslexia). 
• Professionals who are currently participating in a state-approved dyslexia therapy training program to attain an AA license in dyslexia therapy.

SB 2681 clarifies that the latter group must participate in an Orton-Gillingham-based program. Additionally, it adds the following groups to the list of MDE-licensed dyslexia therapists:

• Professionals who hold a standard five-year license or administrator license and a master’s degree, and have completed an MDE-approved Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia training program.
• Professionals who hold:
  • A national certification for Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia therapy or Orton-Gillingham-based academic language therapy from a nationally recognized professional organization; 
  • College transcripts as proof of a master’s degree or greater level of graduate education; and
  • Current membership in a national certifying organization for Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia therapy or Orton-Gillingham-based academic language therapy as proof of maintenance of professional continuing education standards.

SB 2681 further clarifies what qualifies as an approved dyslexia therapy program for professionals pursuing licenses in dyslexia therapy. The program must have the following characteristics:

• Be accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC);
• Include a minimum of 200 hours of coursework and 700 hours of clinical work, observed and monitored by a Qualified Instructor of Certified Academic Language Therapist (defined below); and
• Require a reading-science competency examination, including multisensory structured language, administered by a nationally recognized organization with authority to issue national certification.

The bill defines a Qualified Instructor of Certified Academic Language Therapist as a professional with the following qualifications: 

• Has been certified through a nationally recognized Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia therapy organization or Orton-Gillingham-based academic language therapy organization;
• Has experience in Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia therapy situations;
• Has completed a minimum of 1,400 clinical therapy hours;
• Has completed a minimum of two (2) curriculum therapy cycles remediating students;
• Has been trained in a minimum of two (2) Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia therapy curriculum programs;
• Has assisted in training educators through an Orton-Gillingham-based dyslexia therapy program under a Qualified Instructor of Certified Academic Language Therapists; and
• Holds a master’s degree or higher level of education.

Lastly, SB 2681 would allow professionals who are licensed as dyslexia therapists in other states and meet the qualifications to become a licensed dyslexia therapist in Mississippi to receive an MDE-issued license through reciprocity.

In practice, the bill could increase the pool of MDE-licensed dyslexia therapists, which could expand the number of schools with dyslexia therapists. In turn, this would increase the number of schools eligible to receive students under the Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship Program, or reduce the need for students to transfer schools at all.