The bill establishes a new chapter in Title 16 of the General Laws, titled "CHAPTER 117: PILOT PROGRAM FOR VIRTUAL REALITY LEARNING PLATFORM." It mandates the appropriation of $250,000 starting in fiscal year 2026 to fund a pilot program aimed at implementing transformative and innovative instructional strategies for math and science courses in elementary and secondary education through the use of virtual reality technology.

The Department of Education is tasked with issuing a request for proposal (RFP) for an experiential learning platform that has demonstrated significant improvement in algebra 1 benchmarks, as verified by a third-party evaluation. The selected program will provide tactile, multimodal learning experiences for students in grades six through twelve, immersing them in real-world problems to enhance their understanding of math concepts and skills.

Additionally, the appropriated funds will be used to train and coach middle school and high school mathematics teachers in utilizing virtual reality technology to deliver effective, student-centered lessons. The RFP process must be completed by August 1, 2025, and the chosen provider is required to submit a third-party written report to the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education prior to the start of the next full school year following the beginning of the pilot program, demonstrating the program's impact on student engagement and achievement. The act will take effect upon passage.