MS HB781

Requires all Mississippi public school districts and charter schools to offer part-time and full-time digital learning and virtual instruction options to students in grades K-12 beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, with a pilot program in select districts during 2022-2023

Mandates the State Department of Education to annually publish and maintain a list of approved digital learning providers, who must demonstrate successful experience, use Mississippi-licensed teachers, meet state curriculum standards, and maintain approved status for five years

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, requires each public school district and charter school to provide students with assigned digital mobile devices (tablets, iPads, etc.) instead of traditional textbooks, with devices remaining school property and parents liable for deductible costs if devices are lost, stolen, or damaged

Requires schools to transition to a paperless instruction model with wireless technology infrastructure capable of supporting digital communication between teachers and students, including installation of electronic textbooks and licensed curriculum materials on student devices

Districts offering only part-time virtual instruction must provide a minimum of 10% of instructional curriculum digitally, and programs must include at least two full-time and one part-time option specifically for students in dropout prevention, academic intervention, or juvenile justice education programs