California Assembly Bill AB678 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 678INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Hall FEBRUARY 26, 2009 An act to amend Section 51871.5 of the Education Code, relating to education technology. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 678, as introduced, Hall. Education technology. Existing law requires a school district to have a current 3- to 5-year education technology plan as a precondition to receiving a technology grant administered by the State Department of Education. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is required to develop guidelines and criteria to be included in the education technology plan. The guidelines and criteria are required to include a component to educate pupils and teachers on the appropriate and ethical use of information technology in the classroom, Internet safety, the manner in which to avoid committing plagiarism, the concept, purpose, and significance of a copyright so that pupils are equipped with the skills necessary to distinguish lawful from unlawful online downloading, and the implications of illegal peer-to-peer network file sharing. The Superintendent is required to ensure that each school district has access to technical assistance and an approved online technology plan builder that the department determines is in compliance with state and federal requirements. The Superintendent is required to maintain a record of school districts that have a 3- to 5-year education technology plan and to make that information available to interested public agencies. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 51871.5 of the Education Code is amended to read: 51871.5. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that education technology planning be accomplished in the most comprehensive manner possible. To that end, the  current  practice of developing education technology plans for each funding program  should be   was  replaced with a comprehensive local planning process that  will enable   enables  school districts to apply for grants on an ongoing basis and  assist   assists  in utilizing available education technology programs. (b)  On or after January 1, 2005, as   As  a precondition to receiving a technology grant administered by the department, a school district shall have a current three- to five-year education technology plan. The state board may waive this requirement if it determines that the applicant school district made a good faith effort to develop a plan, but for reasons beyond its control, the  school    district cannot develop the plan before receipt of the technology grant. (c)  On or before July 1, 2007, the   The  Superintendent shall develop guidelines and criteria  for inclusion   to be included  in the education technology plan required pursuant to subdivision (b). The guidelines and criteria shall include  , but are not limited to,  a component to educate pupils and teachers on the appropriate and ethical use of information technology in the classroom, Internet safety, the manner in which to avoid committing plagiarism, the concept, purpose, and significance of a copyright so that pupils are equipped with the skills necessary to distinguish lawful from unlawful online downloading, and the implications of illegal peer-to-peer network file sharing. A school district that, on July 1, 2008, has a current three- to five-year education technology plan that complies with subdivision (b) is not required to comply with this subdivision until after its plan expires or is voluntarily replaced. (d)  On or after January 1, 2005, the   The  Superintendent shall ensure that each school district has access to technical assistance and an approved online technology plan builder that the department determines is in compliance with state and federal requirements. (e) The department shall maintain a record of school districts that have a three- to five-year education technology plan and shall make that information available to interested public agencies.