SB 325

This bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to administer a pilot program to award a contract to an entity to provide a virtual reality technology program in one rural school district, one suburban school district, and one urban school district, each of which is selected by DPI. As part of the contract, the entity must agree to provide the virtual reality technology program to at least 16,000 pupils and provide at least 3,200 virtual reality headsets for use in the participating school districts. Under the bill, the virtual reality technology program must satisfy various criteria, including the following:

1) It is aligned with the state model academic standards for math and science in grades 6 to 12.

2) It has demonstrated significant improvement in Algebra 1 benchmark assessments through a research-backed, spatially enhanced approach to mathematical concepts, as verified by a third-party evaluation—specifically, a randomized, controlled trial.

3) It includes a formative assessment platform that a) allows pupils to take assessments aligned with the state model academic standards for math and science and b) provides assessment results to teachers and school district administrators in a manner that allows them to monitor pupils’ progress toward meeting the math and science standards throughout the school year.

The bill also requires DPI to provide to individuals who teach math in the middle or high school grades in the participating school districts coaching, which DPI must ensure is delivered in the classroom, and training on how to effectively use the virtual reality technology program in the classroom. Finally, the bill requires DPI to provide to the standing legislative committees on education monthly written reports on the status of the selection of an entity to provide the virtual reality technology program and the implementation of the virtual reality technology pilot program.