MS HB1545

Requires the State Department of Education to establish the "A Better Chance" (ABC) Program to provide pre-kindergarten instruction to students and families throughout Mississippi via the Internet beginning in the 2013-2014 school year.

Program must include daily age-appropriate instruction and activities based on the Mississippi Pre-Kindergarten Curriculum, with downloadable educational materials for children and parents.

Mandates daily real-time instruction delivered by a licensed pre-kindergarten teacher via the Internet, scheduled for at least three different times each school day, with recorded lessons available on the program's webpage for replay at other times.

Requires the Department of Education to develop a method to track the number of children regularly participating in the ABC Program and assess their progress, with a report due to the House and Senate Education Committees before January 1, 2015.

Effective date: July 1, 2013.