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State Board of Education Seeks Public Input on Policies to Resume In-Person Schooling as Primary Teaching Mode
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) is seeking public comment on two policies that call for all school districts to resume in-person instruction as the primary mode of teaching starting in the 2021-22 school year. The policies set requirements for districts that choose to offer a virtual learning option to individual students and establish standards for virtual learning days.
The SBE’s action aligns with the requirements of the federal American Rescue Plan Act, which provides money to schools to help safely reopen and maintain safe operations.
“The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) remains committed to providing guidance and support to help districts ensure all students have access to in-person learning,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education.
Under the proposed policies, districts that offer a virtual option for individual students must adopt local board-approved policies that include the criteria for students to participate in virtual learning, requirements for equipment, connectivity, attendance and student conduct, and assurances of equal access and non-discrimination and the delivery of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for students with disabilities.
All students who take part in virtual learning will be required to take statewide assessments on campus.
The SBE’s proposed policies will allow districts to provide schoolwide or districtwide virtual learning days in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as weather emergencies or an epidemic prevailing in the district. However, districts must ensure any virtual learning days include actual teaching for a minimum of 330 minutes, as state law requires. Districts are required to provide a minimum of 180 days of instruction.
The SBE provided districts with broad flexibility in the 2020-21 school year to help manage the COVID-19 outbreak. Districts were allowed to meet the 180-day teaching requirement through traditional, virtual or a hybrid of in-person and distance learning. The SBE voted in April to end the pandemic-related flexibilities.
To assist with virtual learning, the Legislature provided $200 million in 2020 through the Mississippi Connects program, which provided every public-school student with a computer device to learn. The next phase of the Mississippi Connects program includes professional development and support from digital learning instructional coaches, who will help teachers, schools and districts effectively use educational technology and improve student outcomes statewide.
Proposed virtual learning policies to start in 2021-22:
The APA comment period will be open through July 12, 2021 at 5 p.m. The comments will be submitted to the SBE on July 15, 2021 for consideration of final approval. The APA comments will be submitted to Dr. Jo Ann Malone at accreditation@mdek12.org.
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