House Bill 152

AN ACT TO CREATE "THE DIGITAL ACCESS LEARNING AND VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM ACT OF 2023"; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THIS ACT; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ANNUALLY PUBLISH A LIST OF APPROVED DIGITAL LEARNING AND VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM PROVIDERS THAT OFFER DIGITAL LEARNING SERVICES AND PROVIDE THE SAME TO THE CHAIRMEN OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEES; TO PRESCRIBE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS OF DIGITAL ACCESS LEARNING OR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENTS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ANNUALLY PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH A LIST OF PROVIDERS APPROVED TO OFFER DIGITAL ACCESS LEARNING OR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS; TO PRESCRIBE THE CRITERIA NECESSARY FOR DIGITAL ACCESS LEARNING OR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS TO BE APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT; TO REQUIRE A TWO-YEAR PHASE-IN PERIOD FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF DIGITAL ACCESS LEARNING OR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR SHALL BE THE YEAR OF PILOT PROGRAMS FOR CERTAIN DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT USING ESTABLISHED CRITERIA; TO REQUIRE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 FOR PARTICIPATION IN PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME DIGITAL ACCESS LEARNING OR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM OPTIONS BY THE START OF THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR; TO PROVIDE THAT AN APPROVED PROVIDER SHALL RETAIN ITS APPROVED STATUS FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S APPROVAL; TO REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL TO INCLUDE IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD METHODS OF FACILITATING THE TRANSITION TO A PAPERLESS INSTRUCTION MODEL THAT PROVIDES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF CERTAIN ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND OTHER DIGITAL MOBILE DEVICES CAPABLE OF CONNECTING TO THE DISTRICT'S OR SCHOOL'S WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE; TO STIPULATE THAT THE MODEL SHALL REQUIRE DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE A WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING AGGREGATED AND SEGREGATED COMMUNICATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FROM TEACHERS TO EACH STUDENT IN THE EDUCATIONAL COHORT BASED ON GRADE AND CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT WITH UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION; TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO PROVIDE EACH STUDENT WITH AN ASSIGNED DIGITAL MOBILE DEVICE INSTALLED WITH THE NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ADOPTED BY THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AS COMPONENTS OF ITS CURRICULUM STANDARDS FOR PURPOSES OF ACCESSING AND PERFORMING ALL COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENTS; TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO PURCHASE LICENSURE AGREEMENTS FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF ELECTRONIC INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR USE OF THE PUBLISHED CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION MATERIALS BY INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND STUDENTS; TO REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT OR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO MAINTAIN INSURANCE ON EACH DIGITAL MOBILE DEVICE PURCHASED AND ASSIGNED TO STUDENTS, WHICH SHALL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS RECEIVING A DIGITAL MOBILE DEVICE AND THEIR PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIAN SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY DEDUCTIBLE COSTS REQUIRED FOR LOST, STOLEN, DAMAGED OR DESTROYED DEVICES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-161-3, 37-43-1, 37-43-19, 37-43-21, 37-43-23, 37-43-31, 37-43-37 AND 37-7-301, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Charles Young, Jr.

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 4 – Jan 31

1. Jan 4Referred to the House committees on Education and on Appropriations
2. Jan 31Died in committee in the House