Controlling Board defers Department of Youth Services request for VR headsets pilot pending evaluation plan and clarification of funding use

The State Controlling Board on April 7 deferred a Department of Youth Services request to accept Title I federal funding for a pilot program to provide virtual-reality equipment to agency facilities, after members asked for more detail on quantities, program goals and evaluation plans.

Steve Horenko, the agency procurement officer, told the board the request would provide headsets through a Title I federal grant and said there are "approximately this is, 60, headsets, for each 1 of our, facilities." When asked to clarify how many facilities would receive sets, Horenko said, "It is, 30 sets of 4. So 1 for each of our facilities and 1 for our central office to work and train." Members pressed whether the grant is specifically earmarked for VR or could fund other education-related items; Horenko said the Title I funding is not specifically limited to VR and "other pieces of edu, equipment" or teachers' salaries could be funded.

Representative Stewart and others raised concerns about whether the pilot should be evaluated and how outcomes would be measured, particularly for a population of students in youth-services facilities. Senator Ingram asked the department to return with how it will evaluate the pilot and measure outcomes and use. Representative Santucci sought clarity on whether the dollars were specifically for VR headsets; Horenko repeated that the funding could be used for other educational purposes.

After members requested further detail and an evaluation plan, the department agreed to defer the item and return at a later meeting with clarifying information on how the pilot will be evaluated and why the equipment is needed. For the record, the board noted item 44 will be deferred to a future date.