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H. B. No. 656 *HR26/R1826* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Education;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Roberson
HOUSE BILL NO. 656
AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AND CITED AS THE "MISSISSIPPI 1
SPECIAL-PURPOSE SCHOOLS OVERSIGHT ACT OF 2026"; TO DECLARE THE 2
LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING ACADEMIC, LITERACY, AND WORKFORCE 3
OUTCOMES FOR NEURODIVERGENT STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC 4
LEARNING DIFFERENCES THROUGH TARGETED REMEDIATION AND EARLY 5
INTERVENTION; TO RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF ACCREDITED SPECIAL-PURPOSE 6
SCHOOLS IN SERVING STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA, ADHD, AUTISM SPECTRUM 7
DISORDER, AND RELATED LEARNING DISABILITIES; TO CREATE THE 8
MISSISSIPPI SPECIAL-PURPOSE SCHOOLS OVERSIGHT BOARD AS AN 9
INDEPENDENT BOARD OF RECORD UNDER THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF 10
EDUCATION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY; TO PRESCRIBE THE 11
BOARD'S COMPOSITION, APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY, GEOGRAPHIC 12
REPRESENTATION, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, TERMS OF OFFICE, 13
ORGANIZATION, AND LIMITATIONS ON CONSECUTIVE SERVICE; TO VEST THE 14
BOARD WITH FINAL AUTHORITY OVER THE AUTHORIZATION, 15
REAUTHORIZATION, AND ACCREDITATION OF SPECIAL-PURPOSE SCHOOLS, 16
SUBJECT ONLY TO JUDICIAL REVIEW; TO ENUMERATE THE POWERS AND 17
DUTIES OF THE BOARD, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR 18
MEASURABLE STUDENT GROWTH, REMEDIATION EFFECTIVENESS, PROGRESS 19
MONITORING, REINTEGRATION INTO GENERAL EDUCATION, DATA 20
COLLABORATION WITH THE MISSISSIPPI STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, 21
ADVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE LEGISLATURE AND STATE DEPARTMENT 22
OF EDUCATION, AND ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; TO AUTHORIZE THE 23
BOARD TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS PURSUANT TO THE 24
MISSISSIPPI ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT; TO REQUIRE THE STATE 25
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL 26
SUPPORT WHILE PRESERVING THE BOARD'S INDEPENDENT DECISION-MAKING 27
AUTHORITY; TO PROVIDE FOR FUNDING THROUGH LEGISLATIVE 28
APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER LAWFUL SOURCES, INCLUDING GRANTS AND 29
FEDERAL FUNDS; TO AUTHORIZE THE EMPLOYMENT OF AN EXECUTIVE 30
DIRECTOR AND NECESSARY STAFF AND TO PROVIDE FOR COMPENSATION, PER 31
DIEM, AND TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS; TO ESTABLISH AN 32
EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 33
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 34
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the 35
"Mississippi Special-Purpose Schools Oversight Act of 2026." 36
SECTION 2. (1) The purpose of this act is to serve 37
Mississippi students who have more intense learning needs but high 38
potential to become proficient in reading, writing, mathematics, 39
and creative problem-solving. The intent is to increase the 40
number of students who are college and career ready and to 41
strengthen Mississippi's long-term educational and workforce 42
outcomes by addressing the needs of neurodivergent learners and 43
those with specific learning differences. 44
(2) The Legislature finds that targeted remediation and 45
early intervention for students with learning differences will: 46
(a) Lower dropout rates among students with learning 47
differences; 48
(b) Raise graduation rates for students with dyslexia, 49
ADHD, and related learning challenges; 50
(c) Lower student retention rates for those with 51
reading difficulties; 52
(d) Increase school attendance and participation among 53
students facing learning challenges; 54
(e) Reduce overall special education expenditures by 55
remediating foundational learning deficits; 56
(f) Decrease the number of students requiring long-term 57
special education services; 58
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(g) Reduce behavioral disruptions in schools by 59
addressing underlying learning-related causes; 60
(h) Raise Mississippi's literacy rates to exceed 61
national literacy averages by intervening with students at risk of 62
retention, underperformance, or low proficiency in reading; and 63
(i) Support students at higher risk of mental health 64
difficulties that arise as a secondary consequence of 65
under-identification and lack of remediation in acquiring 66
proficient literacy skills. 67
(3) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure 68
high-quality, evidence-based and specialized educational 69
opportunities for students with neurodivergent learning profiles 70
and related exceptionalities, including, but not limited to, 71
dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and other specific 72
learning disabilities. The Legislature recognizes the unique role 73
of Accredited Special-Purpose Schools in providing targeted 74
remediation and intervention that closes learning gaps and 75
supports successful reintegration into general education 76
classrooms. 77
SECTION 3. (1) There is created the Mississippi 78
Special-Purpose Schools Oversight Board to oversee the 79
authorization, reauthorization and accreditation of all Accredited 80
Special-Purpose Schools serving neurodivergent and exceptional 81
student populations within the State of Mississippi. The board 82
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shall be an independent board of record under the State Department 83
of Education for administrative purposes only. 84
(2) The board shall be composed of nine (9) voting members 85
appointed as follows: 86
(a) Three (3) members appointed by the Governor, with 87
one (1) member being from each of the Mississippi Supreme Court 88
Districts, as follows: 89
(i) One (1) licensed medical doctor with 90
demonstrated expertise or clinical experience in ADHD or related 91
neurodevelopmental conditions; 92
(ii) One (1) licensed psychologist with 93
professional experience in neurodiversity-related mental health 94
conditions affecting student learning; and 95
(iii) One (1) board-certified behavior analyst 96
(BCBA) or ASA-trained professional with experience in school-based 97
intervention; 98
(b) Three (3) members appointed by the State 99
Superintendent of Education, with one (1) member being from each 100
of the Mississippi Supreme Court Districts, as follows: 101
(i) One (1) certified academic language 102
therapist-qualified instructor (CALT-QI); 103
(ii) One (1) Speech-language pathologist (SLP) 104
with specialized experience serving students with language-based 105
learning disabilities or autism spectrum disorders; and 106
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(iii) One (1) department subject-matter expert in 107
dyslexia and related disorders, who shall hold CALT credentials; 108
and 109
(c) Three (3) members appointed jointly by the 110
Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of 111
Representatives, with one (1) member being from each of the 112
Mississippi Supreme Court Districts, as follows: 113
(i) Two (2) representatives from a currently 114
accredited special-purpose schools demonstrating measurable 115
student growth in remediation outcomes; and 116
(ii) One (1) member-at-large with a record of 117
advocacy, research or administration in neurodivergent education 118
or remediation programs. 119
In making the appointments, the appointing authority shall 120
ensure diversity of expertise among members of the board required 121
to oversee schools serving neurodivergent populations. 122
(3) (a) The initial terms of members of the board shall be 123
as follows: 124
(i) The initial term of office for the three (3) 125
members appointed by the Governor shall be four (4) years; 126
(ii) The initial term of office for the three (3) 127
members jointly appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker 128
of the House of Representatives shall be three (3) years and 129
thereafter shall be three (3) years; and 130
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(iii) The initial term of office for the three (3) 131
members appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education 132
shall be three (3) years. 133
(b) Thereafter the term of office of members appointed 134
to the board shall be four (4) years, and members may be 135
reappointed, but in no instance may a member serve more than two 136
(2) consecutive terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same 137
manner as the original appointment. 138
(4) The board shall meet as soon as practical after 139
September 1, 2026, upon the call of the Governor, and shall 140
organize for business by selecting a chairperson and 141
vice-chairperson from among its members, who shall serve an annual 142
term. 143
SECTION 4. (1) The Mississippi Special-Purpose Schools 144
Oversight Board shall have the following powers and duties: 145
(a) To review, approve, deny, and renew authorizations 146
and accreditations for all accredited special-purpose schools 147
operating within the state; 148
(b) To establish standards for measurable growth and 149
student progress consistent with the purpose of remediation and 150
reintegration into general education settings; 151
(c) To monitor school performance data through 152
collaboration with the department's Mississippi Student 153
Information System (MSIS) reporting categories relevant to 154
remediation and progress monitoring; 155
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(d) To establish benchmarks for student growth, 156
remediation effectiveness, and return-to-general-education success 157
rates; 158
(e) To advise the State Department of Education and the 159
Mississippi Legislature on matters related to the education, 160
remediation and support of neurodivergent learners; 161
(f) To collaborate with department to develop and 162
update licensing guidelines and professional reporting 163
requirements for individuals serving these populations; 164
(g) To develop a statewide framework for 165
special-purpose schools whose mission is to provide high-quality 166
remediation closing academic gaps for neurodivergent learners; 167
(h) To identify effective instructional practices and 168
ensure alignment with state educational standards and federal 169
requirements; and 170
(i) To provide an annual report to the Governor, 171
Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives and 172
State Board of Education summarizing the status, performance and 173
accreditation activities of special-purpose schools. 174
(2) The board shall have final authority over authorization, 175
reauthorization, and accreditation decisions of special-purpose 176
schools operating under this act, subject only to judicial review 177
as provided by law. 178
(3) The board may adopt, amend and promulgate such rules and 179
regulations as are necessary to carry out the provisions and 180
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intent of this act, subject to the Mississippi Administrative 181
Procedures Act. 182
SECTION 5. The State Department of Education shall provide 183
administrative and logistical support to the Mississippi 184
Special-Purpose Schools Oversight Board, including, but not 185
limited to, data access, meeting coordination and technical 186
support consistent with maintaining the Board's independent 187
decision-making authority. 188
SECTION 6. (1) (a) The Mississippi Special-Purpose Schools 189
Oversight Board shall be funded through annual appropriations made 190
by the Legislature from the General Fund and may also receive 191
grants, donations or federal funds designated for special-purpose 192
or neurodiversity-focused education initiatives. 193
(b) The State Department of Education shall include the 194
board's operational funding needs as a separate line item in its 195
annual budget submission to the Legislature. 196
(2) The board may employ an executive director, who shall be 197
responsible for carrying out the policies of the board and 198
managing its daily operations. The executive director shall serve 199
at the will and pleasure of the board and shall receive 200
compensation as fixed by the board, subject to approval by the 201
State Personnel Board. 202
(3) The board may employ additional professional, clerical 203
and administrative staff as necessary to perform its functions 204
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ST: Mississippi Special-Purpose Schools
Oversight Board; establish.
under this act, subject to the availability of funds and State 205
Personnel Board regulations. 206
(4) Board members shall receive a per diem in the amount 207
authorized under Section 25-3-69, for each day's attendance at 208
meetings of the board, and shall be reimbursed for travel expenses 209
as provided under Section 25-3-41. 210
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from 211
and after July 1, 2026. 212