Districts across Mississippi are in the process of buying computers for students and teachers as the coronavirus pandemic has forced many schools to pivot to virtual learning. The Mississippi Legislature recently passed The Equity in Distance Learning Act, which provides $150 million and directs the state department of education to develop a system for districts to purchase technology. The law also says the department should develop a list of preferred vendors but if a school chooses to go with a vendor, not on the list, they could purchase elsewhere as long as it meets certain criteria.
"Well, the problem was that MDE decided that they were going to tell school districts that the school district had to buy from MDE's preferred vendors after July 31," said State Auditor Shad White. "And that just did not comport with the law."
White says not only is it incompliant with the law, it's making it difficult for districts to purchase technology. He says it's also slowing down their ability to buy computers for students who may need to learn at home. After White sent a letter to Gov. Tate Reeves and legislative leaders voicing his concerns, MDE shortly fired back. In a press release, State Superintendent of Education Carey Wright disputed White’s claim calling it "inaccurate and devoid of all context about the intent of this law.”
White doubled down on his position in a follow-up release showing documents and emails from MDE staff telling schools they had to purchase products from the preferred list of vendors.
Since then, the state department of education has said publicly that schools have some flexibility and do not have to buy from its preferred vendors. White says, superintendents who were complaining last week, are now communicating with him that MDE is cooperating.
