Section 37-68-5 - DefinitionFor purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Grant program" means the Equity in Distance Learning Grant Program established in this chapter.(b) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Education.(c) "School" means public school districts, agricultural high schools, the Mississippi School for the Deaf and Blind, the Mississippi School of the Arts and the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science and public charter schools.(d) "COVID-19" means the Coronavirus Disease 2019.(e) "State of Emergency" means the State of Emergency declared by Executive Order of the Governor of the State of Mississippi on March 14, 2020, and any amendments thereto or subsequent orders or amendments thereto.(f) "Express Product List" or "EPL" means the compilation of vendors and products adopted by the department for use by schools for the purchase of devices, software, online tools, and other equipment and technology necessary to support distance learning.(g) "Learning management system" means a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation and delivery of educational courses, training programs, or learning and development programs.(h) "Eligible expenses" means a cost incurred by a school, pursuant to this chapter, to facilitate or enhance distance learning capabilities under its distance learning plan, including: (i) The purchase of laptop computers, tablets, assisted learning devices or other devices which can be used personally by a student or teacher in their home or in the classroom;(ii) The purchase of learning management systems, software and other online tools;(iii) The purchase and installation of hardware to provide for or enhance the internet connectivity of a school's students, including the cost of establishing personal or centrally located hotspots;(iv) The enhancement of security related to devices or connectivity to comply with state and federal law, and to protect students, teachers and administrators and other staff working within the school;(v) The delivery of professional development related to use of devices, connectivity and other relevant components of distance learning for teachers, students and the wider community, including parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school; and(vi) Materials or equipment necessary to increase health and safety precautions in classrooms or other school facilities.Added by Laws, 2020, ch. 488, SB 3044,§ 4, (became law without the Governor's signature on July 9, 2020).