(1) The maximum scholarship granted per eligible student with speech-language impairment shall be an amount equivalent to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program base student cost.

(2)

(a) Any nonpublic school under this program shall report to the State Department of Education the number of students with speech-language impairment who are enrolled in nonpublic schools on the Mississippi Speech-Language Therapy Scholarships as of September 30 of each year in order to determine funding for the subsequent year. Funds may not be transferred from any funding provided to the Mississippi School for the Deaf and the Blind for program participants who are eligible under Section 37-175-5.

(b) The State Department of Education shall make payments to nonpublic schools for each student at the nonpublic school equal to the state share of the adequate education program payments for each student in average daily attendance at the school district from which the student transferred. In calculating the local contribution for purposes of determining the state share of the adequate education program payments, the department shall deduct the pro rata local contribution of the school district in which the student resides, to be determined as provided in Section 37-151-7(2)(a).

(c) Payments made pursuant to this subsection by the State Department of Education must be made at the same time and in the same manner as adequate education program payments are made to school districts under Sections 37-151-101 and 37-151-103. Amounts payable to a nonpublic school must be determined by the State Department of Education.

(3) If the parent opts to remove a child from a public school to a nonpublic special purpose school and to receive a scholarship under this chapter, then transportation shall be provided at the parent’s or guardian’s expense.