As implementation of Mississippi Senate Bill 2103 moves forward, there continues to be significant discussion across the state regarding which professionals will qualify as “special educators” for the additional salary supplement. The legislation references Mississippi Code Title 37, Chapter 23 as the guiding framework, and we understand that the Mississippi Department of Education is currently working to develop official guidance and a list of eligible positions. At this time, no final determination has been made publicly regarding the inclusion of certain roles. While there have been claims circulating on social media that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) will not be included, this has not been confirmed, and there is currently no formal guidance supporting that conclusion. SLPs and other related service providers play a critical role in delivering special education services, often serving as key members of IEP teams and supporting student outcomes across Mississippi schools. As such, there is strong interest from districts and provider groups in understanding how these roles will be interpreted under the law. MSHA has been and continues to be actively engaging with state leadership and stakeholders to seek clarity and will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Once clarity has been determined, we will provide a meaningful update to members.
Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association 