Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program; revise definition of "dyslexia."

Mississippi's SB 2289 revises the legal definition of "dyslexia" to include specific neurological and educational characteristics, such as difficulties with word reading, spelling, and phonological processing that persist despite effective instruction. The bill establishes a scholarship program allowing students in grades 1-12 diagnosed with dyslexia to access licensed dyslexia therapy at public or approved nonpublic schools. Therapy must be delivered by Mississippi Department of Education-licensed professionals using evidence-based, Orton-Gillingham methods in small groups, focusing on phonemic awareness, phonics, and multisensory instruction. This policy directly affects students with dyslexia and their families by creating a new pathway for accessing specialized reading support through state-funded scholarships.