On October 15, 2026, the State Board of Education (SBE) granted approval to begin the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) process to establish the following Policy:
- Code 7-3: 55.3, State Board Policy Chapter 55, Rule 55.3 Internet Safety and Social Media Protection Policy for Public School Districts
Background Information: During the 2026 Legislative Session, the Legislature passed House Bill 1224, the Mississippi Keeping Kids Safe Online Act, which requires the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) to establish a policy to help ensure that public school districts maintain safe, secure, age-appropriate, and educationally focused digital learning environments for students. MDE proposes a new rule establishing minimum requirements that Mississippi public school districts must incorporate into local board policy.
The proposed rule addresses Internet and social media safety, student privacy, cybersecurity, digital citizenship, age-appropriate instruction, parent and guardian notification, reporting procedures, annual acknowledgment of acceptable use requirements, and annual review of district policies and procedures. It also requires safeguards for electronic communications, educational technology resources, content filtering, student information, and compliance with applicable federal and state student privacy laws. The rule is intended to promote consistent minimum protection for students while allowing districts to adopt additional safeguards that do not conflict with state or federal law.
- Secretary of State Office – System # 28972
Please submit written comments to Jason Hageman, Director, Information Security and Data Privacy, Office of Technology and Strategic Services, via email at isap@mdek12.org or regular mail to 359 N. West Street, Post Office Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771.
All public comments must be received in the Office of Technology and Strategic Services no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2026. APA comments will be presented to the SBE on December 17, 2026.