Mississippi Education Funding Programs: The Special Needs ESA, Dyslexia and Speech-Language Scholarships and Children’s Promise Act Explained
Mississippi education funding for parents in 2026-27: who qualifies for the Education Scholarship Account for students with IEPs, the $8,421 maximum, quarterly reimbursements, allowable expenses, the Dyslexia Therapy and Nate Rogers Speech-Language scholarships, Children's Promise Act tax credits and what it means for homeschoolers. Last verified October 2026.
Quick answer: Mississippi does not have a universal school choice program. Its main state-funded option is the Education Scholarship Account (ESA) for students with disabilities, created by the Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act. Students who live in Mississippi and have had an active public school IEP within the past three years can apply, and for 2026-27 the maximum reimbursement is $8,421, paid quarterly for approved expenses such as private school tuition, curriculum, tutoring and therapies. Awards are first come, first served, with a waitlist. Mississippi also offers a Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship and the Nate Rogers Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship for special-purpose schools, and the Children’s Promise Act gives tax credits to donors who support eligible private schools. ESA funds cannot be used for a registered home instruction program.
Mississippi’s education funding options are narrower than those in neighboring states such as Arkansas, Alabama and Louisiana. Most help is targeted at students with disabilities, and the main program works by reimbursing parents after they pay approved costs.
This guide explains who qualifies for the ESA, how much it pays, how reimbursements work, what the dyslexia and speech-language scholarships offer, how the Children’s Promise Act fits in and what homeschool families should know. For how Mississippi compares with other states, see our guide to state education funding programs for parents.
Sources: Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Special Education, Education Scholarship Account page, 2026-27 ESA FAQ and reimbursement schedule; Mississippi Code section 37-181-1 and following (Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act); MDE K-12 Private School Scholarship Information and Dyslexia pages; Mississippi Today reporting on House Bill 1944 (April 1, 2026). Rules and funding can change each legislative session. This is general information, not legal advice. Last verified October 2026.
Mississippi Programs at a Glance
| Program | Who it serves | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Education Scholarship Account (ESA) | Students with an active public school IEP in the past three years | Quarterly reimbursement of approved expenses, up to $8,421 for 2026-27 |
| Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship | Students diagnosed with dyslexia | Scholarship to attend an approved school offering dyslexia therapy |
| Nate Rogers Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship | Students with speech-language impairments | Paid directly to an approved special-purpose school |
| Children’s Promise Act | Donors to eligible private and special-purpose schools and foster care organizations | State income tax credit for donations |
Our explainer on ESAs vs. vouchers vs. tax-credit scholarships covers how these program types differ.
The Education Scholarship Account (ESA)
The Mississippi Legislature created the ESA in 2015 through the Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act, Senate Bill 2695. It is administered by the MDE Office of Special Education and lets parents of children with disabilities withdraw their child from public school and receive funds to help pay for private school tuition and other allowable expenses.
A 2024 law, House Bill 1229, extended the program and added requirements, including verification that the child has been accepted at an eligible school.
Who is eligible
According to the MDE’s 2026-27 ESA FAQ, a student must:
- Reside in Mississippi.
- Have an active Individualized Education Program (IEP) within three years of the application date. An active IEP means one developed by a public school district where the student was enrolled and received special education or related services.
- Have a letter of acceptance, on school letterhead, from an eligible school qualified to meet the child’s learning needs.
What counts as an eligible school
An eligible school is a state-accredited special purpose school, a state-accredited nonpublic school or a nonpublic school in Mississippi that has enrolled the student and provides services for the student’s disability, special education needs or IEP. A home instruction program under Mississippi’s compulsory attendance law is not an eligible school.
How Much the ESA Pays
The MDE calculates the amount each spring based on available funds. For the 2026-27 school year, the maximum reimbursement is $8,421 per student.
Quarterly reimbursement schedule
Funds are paid quarterly to the parent, or to an educational service provider if the parent approves, on a reimbursement basis. Parents submit a request with itemized documentation. Lump-sum reimbursements are not allowed; if you pay fees in full at the start of the year, reimbursement is spread evenly across four quarters.
| Quarter | Request due to MDE | Disbursement date |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | August 31, 2026 | September 29, 2026 |
| 2nd | November 27, 2026 | December 17, 2026 |
| 3rd | February 26, 2027 | March 30, 2027 |
| 4th | May 31, 2027 | June 29, 2027 |
Because funds arrive after you pay, families should plan cash flow before enrolling.
Allowable ESA Expenses
The MDE lists these allowable expenses for 2026-27:
- Tuition and academic fees at an eligible school. Fees beyond tuition count only if they directly affect the student’s educational needs.
- Textbooks for academic coursework.
- Tutoring by a tutor certified or licensed by a state, regional or national body.
- Curriculum, including supplemental materials it requires.
- Testing: nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement tests, alternate assessments, Advanced Placement exams and college admission exams.
- Educational services or therapies from a licensed or certified practitioner or provider, including licensed or certified paraprofessionals or aides.
- Dual enrollment tuition, fees and textbooks for high school students taking college courses.
- School supplies, limited to $50 a year in consumables.
- Computer hardware, software and devices, if an eligible school, licensed tutor, licensed provider or licensed medical professional verifies in writing that they are essential for the student’s goals. Devices must be donated to a public school or library when the student leaves the program.
The MDE notes that tutoring and therapy funds cannot go to a student who is homeschooled or enrolled in public school. Our overview of what education savings account funds can pay for compares these rules with other states.
Parent Responsibilities
To participate, parents sign an agreement. According to the MDE, parents agree to:
- Provide an organized, appropriate educational program with measurable annual goals, including at least reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science.
- Cooperate with the home school district to document the child’s disability and ongoing eligibility at least once every three years.
- Certify that the child has been accepted at an eligible school.
- Not enroll the child in public school, and acknowledge notice that the child gives up an individual entitlement to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) from the district, including special education services, while in the program.
- Not file a certificate of enrollment for a home instruction program.
- Not participate in the Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship or the Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship while using the ESA.
- Notify the MDE of changes in status.
- Share pre- and post-assessments from the student’s school with the Office of Special Education by June each year.
Giving up FAPE
Leaving public school through the ESA means the district is no longer obligated to provide an IEP or special education services to your child while they participate. Local districts still have child find duties to locate, identify and evaluate children in private schools, and federal law provides limited equitable services to parentally placed private school students. Weigh this trade-off carefully, especially for students who rely on intensive services.
How to Apply for the ESA
When to apply
Applications are accepted throughout the school year. The MDE recommends applying between December and May so award notification arrives before school starts.
How selection works
- The MDE reviews applications and documentation within 21 business days.
- Incomplete applications are not processed, and parents are told what is missing.
- Eligible applications are awarded first come, first served, by date stamp.
- Remaining eligible applicants are placed on a waitlist and awarded in order as funds become available.
After an award
Awarded families receive a packet requesting verification of enrollment at an eligible school, steps to set up reimbursement and a pre-assessment. Once completed, the student remains in the program until returning to public school, finishing high school, completing the school year in which they turn 21 or failing to verify eligibility every three years. Parents of current participants do not reapply each year, but they must submit a recertification form in the parent portal each April.
Applications and forms are available through local public schools and the MDE website at mdek12.org/OSE/ESA. The Office of Special Education can be reached at 601-359-3498.
Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship
Mississippi’s Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship helps students diagnosed with dyslexia attend a school that provides dyslexia therapy. The MDE Office of Student Intervention Services manages the scholarship and has a 2026-27 application on its Dyslexia page.
The MDE lists these special-purpose nonpublic schools as approved to accept dyslexia therapy scholarship students:
- Magnolia Speech School, Madison
- 3D School, Petal
- Lighthouse Academy, Ocean Springs
- Innova Prep, Hattiesburg
- The Canopy School, Ridgeland
Award amounts are tied to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) base student cost. Families with questions can contact the Office of Student Intervention Services at 601-359-2586.
Nate Rogers Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship
The Nate Rogers Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship, established effective July 1, 2013, benefits students with speech-language impairments. According to the MDE, the maximum scholarship equals the MAEP base student cost for the current year, and funding, when allocated by the Legislature, is paid directly to the special-purpose school the child attends. The same law requires that compulsory-school-age children be screened for speech-language impairment before the end of first grade.
Students cannot receive the dyslexia or speech-language scholarship while participating in the ESA, so compare the programs before applying.
The Children's Promise Act Tax Credit
The Children’s Promise Act gives donors a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit for contributions to eligible organizations, up to 50 percent of the donor’s state tax liability, according to Mississippi Today. It benefits foster care organizations and private or special purpose schools that serve students in foster care, students with chronic illnesses or disabilities, or students eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
The total cap has been $18 million. In 2026, lawmakers passed House Bill 1944, which raises the total to $24 million starting in 2027 and creates separate pools: $9 million for foster care organizations, $9 million for private schools and $6 million for special purpose schools. Families do not apply for these credits directly; schools receive the donations and may use them for scholarships or operations. Ask your school whether it participates.
What Mississippi Families Who Homeschool Should Know
Mississippi’s state-funded programs do not cover homeschooling. The ESA excludes home instruction programs, ESA parents must agree not to file a home instruction certificate of enrollment, and tutoring and therapy funds cannot go to homeschooled students. Mississippi requires homeschooling families to file a certificate of enrollment with the local school attendance officer.
Families who homeschool pay costs themselves. Many build a program from library resources, co-ops, used materials and online curricula such as Miacademy. Our guide to homeschool laws by state explains how to find and follow your state’s rules, and our article on whether homeschoolers can use state education funds shows how other states treat home education.
Broader School Choice in Mississippi
Broader school choice proposals have been debated in recent sessions. According to Mississippi Today, a 2026 proposal for wider school choice did not pass, while the Children’s Promise Act expansion did. Check the MDE and the Legislature’s website for changes before each school year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Mississippi ESA for 2026-27?
The maximum reimbursement is $8,421 per student for the 2026-27 school year, paid quarterly on a reimbursement basis.
Who qualifies for the Mississippi Education Scholarship Account?
Mississippi residents with an active public school IEP within three years of applying who have been accepted at an eligible school.
Can homeschoolers use Mississippi's ESA?
No. Home instruction programs are not eligible schools, and tutoring and therapy funds cannot go to homeschooled students.
Can my child use the ESA and the Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship together?
No. ESA participants cannot take part in the Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship or the Nate Rogers Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship at the same time.
Is there a waitlist for the Mississippi ESA?
Yes. Awards are first come, first served based on available funds, and eligible applicants beyond that are placed on a waitlist.
The Bottom Line
Mississippi’s education funding is aimed mainly at students with disabilities. The ESA reimburses up to $8,421 for 2026-27 for private school tuition, therapies and related costs, with quarterly payments and a first-come waitlist. Dyslexia and speech-language scholarships offer an alternative at approved special-purpose schools, and the Children’s Promise Act supports eligible schools through donor tax credits. Apply early, read the parent agreement carefully and confirm details with the MDE.
