The proposed 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 $2,000,000 starting in fiscal year 2026 to fund a pilot program aimed at enhancing instructional strategies in math and science courses through the use of virtual reality technology. The Department of Education is tasked with issuing a request for proposals for an experiential learning platform that has shown significant improvement in algebra 1 benchmarks, as verified by a third-party evaluation. The selected program will focus on providing tactile, multimodal learning experiences for students in grades six through twelve, immersing them in real-world problems to enhance their understanding of math concepts.

Additionally, the bill outlines that the appropriated funds will be used to train middle and high school mathematics teachers in utilizing virtual reality technology to create engaging, student-centered lessons. The request for proposal process must be completed by August 1, 2025, and the chosen provider is required to submit a third-party report to the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, detailing the program's impact on student engagement and achievement before the next school year begins. This act will take effect upon passage.