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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 167
BY SENATOR CROWE
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Department of Education to establish a study group to investigate
the status of e-book integration in elementary and secondary schools and make
recommendations to the legislature and the State Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education with respect to the replacement of textbooks with e-books,
implementation of cloud technology, related training, an expense analysis of the
current expenditures related to textbooks, copy paper, printers, and printer ribbons,
comparing that to the cost of providing tablets to students with access to e-books and
the cloud.
WHEREAS, Act No. 659 of the 2010 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature
provides in part that, "[w]hen exercising its authority to prescribe and adopt free textbooks
and other instructional materials for use in the public schools . . . the State Board of
Elementary and Secondary Education shall make every effort to ensure that electronic
versions are available for every title it approves for placement on the state list of approved
textbooks and instructional materials."; and
WHEREAS, a more full-scale approach to integration of e-books in the public
schools by providing students tablets and access to the cloud may result in a great cost
savings to the state; and
WHEREAS, a more full-scale approach to integration of e-books in the public
schools by providing students tablets and access to the cloud may result in greater
convenience to students, teachers, and parents; and
WHEREAS, a study is required to determine whether a more full-scale approach to
integration of e-books in the public schools by providing students tablets and access to the
cloud would actually result in cost savings and convenience to the parties involved. SR NO. 167 ENROLLED
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the Department of Education to establish a study group to
investigate with respect to the replacement of textbooks with e-books, implementation of
cloud technology, related training, an expense analysis of the current expenditures related
to textbooks, copy paper, printers, and printer ribbons, comparing that to the cost of
providing tablets to students with access to e-books and the cloud.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate recommends that the study group
consist of the following members:
(1) The chair of the Senate Committee on Education or his designee.
(2) The chair of the House Committee on Education or his designee.
(3) The state superintendent of education or his designee.
(4) A representative of the Louisiana Association of Educators who is also a teacher.
(5) A representative of the Louisiana Teachers Federation who is also a teacher.
(6) A representative of the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana who is
also a teacher.
(7) A representative of the Louisiana Association of Principals.
(8) A representative of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents.
(9) A representative of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians.
(10) A representative of the Louisiana School Board Association.
(11) An employee of the Department of Education with expertise in information
technologies, appointed by the superintendent of education.
(12) A public school employee with expertise in information technologies, appointed
by the president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any official action of the study group shall
require the affirmative approval of the majority of the quorum present and voting, a majority
of the appointed members constituting a quorum.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this study committee shall serve
without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of the constituent organizations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education shall submit a SR NO. 167 ENROLLED
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written report of the study group's findings and recommendations to the State Board of
Elementary and Secondary Education and the legislature not later than February 1, 2014.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
state superintendent of education.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE