Nate Rogers (Speech-Language) Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program

Students in grades K–6 (or the equivalent age 11) who are eligible to receive services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and whose primary eligibility is a speech language impairment. Students are eligible if, during the previous school year, they attended a public or state accredited special-purpose school that “emphasizes instruction in speech-language therapy and intervention,” or if they are otherwise admitted to a nonpublic school that is eligible for the program and have applied for a scholarship within thirty days before the date of the first scholarship payment. The scholarship is not available to fund homeschooling, virtual schools, private schools where students do not have regular and direct contact with teachers at the school’s physical location, or students in juvenile detention centers. _(Last updated July 14, 2024)_

The Mississippi Department of Education will make tuition payments to the approved, accredited nonpublic school for each student that has been awarded the scholarship. The amount of any assessment fee required by the nonpublic school and the amount associated with providing services and therapies to address the disabilities of the student may be paid from the total amount of the scholarship. _(Last updated July 14, 2024)_

The Mississippi legislature funds this program through the state aid formula. Any qualifying Mississippi K–12 student that wishes to participate may receive funding. The maximum voucher amount is equal to the state share of the Mississippi Student Funding Formula base student cost, i.e., the total state and local per-student funding amount provided to public schools for a student with no additional measure needs or special factors. Funds for the scholarship shall be deducted from state aid to the school district allotted for that student, which shall count the student for adequate program allotments, and shall be paid by a warrant remitted by the state department directly to the nonpublic school. Parents are responsible for paying the difference if the costs exceed the amount of the scholarship. The State Department of Education shall disburse payments to participating schools under this program in twelve substantially equal installments, with the initial payment made after the department verification of admission acceptance. _(Last updated July 14, 2024)_

No legal challenges have been filed against the program. _(Last updated July 15, 2024)_