By: Hochberg H.B. No. 2893
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the technology demonstration sites project.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 32, subchapter D of the
Education Code is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION SITES [IMMERSION
PILOT] PROJECT
SECTION 2. Chapter 32, subchapter D of the Education Code is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 32.151. ESTABLISHMENT OF DEMONSTRATION SITES [PILOT]
PROJECT. (a) The agency may by rule establish the technology
demonstration sites [immersion pilot] project to:
(1) demonstrate the use of technology for improving
teaching and learning;
(2) leverage digital tools and resources to extend
learning opportunities from school to home; and
(3) exemplify instructional practices and lessons
that support academic learning in the classroom and at home.
(b) The demonstration site project shall leverage existing
home computing devices [provide a wireless mobile computing device]
or provide access through electronic device check-out options to
extend learning at home. Electronic devices shall be made
available to each student in a participating school [and] to allow
students at school and home to implement the use of software,
on-line courses, and other appropriate learning technologies that
have been shown to improve academic achievement and the progress
measures listed in Section 32.155(e).
Sec. 32.152. DEMONSTRATION SITES [PILOT] PROJECT
ADMINISTRATION. If the agency establishes the demonstration sites
[pilot] project under Section 32.151, the agency shall establish a
procedure and develop criteria for the administration of the
demonstration sites [pilot] project. In administering the
demonstration sites [pilot] project, the agency shall:
(1) select participating school districts or schools;
(2) define the conditions for the distribution and use
of electronic devices not currently available to all students
[computer equipment and other technologies];
(3) develop guidelines for a distribution and
check-out plan for home use of the devices [purchase and distribute
computer equipment and other technologies];
(4) enter into contracts as necessary to implement the
pilot project;
(4) [(5)] monitor local demonstration sites [pilot]
project implementation; and
(5) [(6)] review the progress made through the
demonstration sites [conduct a final evaluation of the pilot
project].
Sec. 32.153. DEMONSTRATION SITES [PILOT] PROJECT FUNDING.
(a) To implement the demonstration sites [pilot] project, the
agency may use any gift, grant, or donation given for the
demonstration sites [pilot] project. The agency may solicit and
accept a gift, grant, or donation of any kind from any source,
including from a foundation, private entity, governmental entity,
and institution of higher education, for the implementation of the
demonstration sites [pilot] project. The agency may use only
undedicated and unobligated money from the general revenue fund for
purposes of the demonstration sites [pilot] project.
(b) Funds for the demonstration sites [pilot] project may
not be used for the construction of a building or other facility.
(c) The selected sites [agency] shall use demonstration
sites [pilot] project funds for:
(1) the purchase of electronic [wireless mobile
computing] devices so that each student in a participating
classroom has an electronic [a wireless mobile computing] device
for use at school and at home;
(2) the purchase of other equipment, including
[additional] computer hardware and software;
(3) the hiring of pedagogical and technical support
staff for school districts or schools participating in the
demonstration sites [pilot] project; and
(4) the purchase of technology-based learning
materials and resources.
(d) Repealed by Acts 2006, 79th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 5,
Sec. 14.03, eff. May 31, 2006.
(e) The demonstration sites [pilot] project may be
implemented only if sufficient funds are available under this
section for that purpose.
Sec. 32.154. DISTRICT OR SCHOOL SELECTION. (a) A school
district may apply to the agency for the establishment of a
technology [immersion] demonstration sites [pilot] project for the
entire district or for a particular school or group of schools in
the district.
(b) The agency shall select the participating districts and
schools for the demonstration sites [pilot] project based on each
district's or school's need and technology readiness for the
demonstration sites [pilot] project. [In selecting participants,
the agency shall consider the following criteria:
(1) whether the district or school has limited access
to educational resources that could be improved through the use of
wireless mobile computing devices and other technologies;
(2) whether the district or school has the following
problems and whether those problems can be mitigated through the
use of wireless mobile computing devices and other technologies:
(A) documented teacher shortages in critical
areas;
(B) limited access to advanced placement
courses;
(C) low rates of satisfactory performance on
assessment instruments under Subchapter B, Chapter 39; and
(D) high dropout rates;
(3) the district's or school's readiness to
incorporate technology into its classrooms;
(4) the possibility of obtaining a trained technology
support staff and high-speed Internet services for the district or
school; and
(5) the methods the district or school will use to
measure the progress of the pilot project in the district or school
in accordance with Section 32.155(e).]
(c) The agency shall [if possible] select at least five
districts [schools] to participate in the demonstration sites
[pilot] project. At least one demonstration sites [pilot] project
should include students in grades 6-12. The agency may select at
least one entire school district and at least one entire school in a
second district to participate in the demonstration sites [pilot]
project.
Sec. 32.155. COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE PROGRESS TEAM.
(a) Each participating school district or school shall establish a
community educational pipeline progress team to assist in
developing and implementing the technology [immersion]
demonstration sites [pilot] project.
(b) The board of trustees of a participating school
district, or of a district in which a participating school is
located, shall appoint individuals to the team. The team may be
composed of:
(1) educators;
(2) district-level administrators;
(3) community leaders;
(4) parents of students who attend a participating
school; and
(5) any other individual the board finds appropriate.
(c) The team shall develop an academic improvement plan that
details how the demonstration sites [pilot] project should be
implemented in the participating district or school. In developing
the academic improvement plan, the team shall consider:
(1) the educational problems in the district or school
that could be mitigated through the implementation of the
demonstration sites [pilot] project; and
(2) the technological and nontechnological resources
that are necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the
demonstration sites [pilot] project.
(d) The team shall recommend to the board of trustees how
the demonstration sites [pilot] project funds should be used to
implement the academic improvement plan developed under Subsection
(c). The team may recommend annually any necessary changes in the
academic improvement plan to the board. The agency must approve the
academic improvement plan, or any changes in the academic
improvement plan, before disbursing demonstration sites [pilot]
project funds to the board.
(e) The board of trustees of each district participating in
the demonstration sites [pilot] project shall send an annual
progress report to the agency not later than August 1 of each year
that the district is participating in the demonstration sites
[pilot] project. The report must state in detail the type of plan
being used in the district or school and the effect of the
demonstration sites [pilot] project on the district or school,
including:
(1) the academic progress of students who are
participating in a demonstration sites [pilot] project, as measured
by performance on assessment instruments;
(2) if applicable, a comparison of student progress in
a school or classroom that is participating in the demonstration
sites [pilot] project as compared with student progress in the
schools or classrooms in the district that are not participating in
the demonstration sites [pilot] project;
(3) any elements of the demonstration sites [pilot]
project that contribute to improved student performance on
assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023 or any
other assessment instrument required by the agency;
(4) any cost savings and improved efficiency relating
to school personnel and the maintenance of facilities;
(5) any effect on student dropout and attendance
rates;
(6) any effect on student enrollment in higher
education;
(7) any effect on teacher performance and retention;
(8) any improvement in communications among students,
teachers, parents, and administrators;
(9) any improvement in parent involvement in the
education of the parent's child;
(10) any effect on community involvement and support
for the district or school; and
(11) any increased student proficiency in
technologies that will help prepare the student for becoming a
member of the workforce.
Sec. 32.156. ELECTRONIC DEVICE [COMPUTER] RETENTION. Each
student participating in the demonstration sites [pilot] project
may retain electronic devices [the wireless mobile computing
device] provided under the demonstration sites [pilot] project as
long as the student is enrolled in a school in a participating
school district. The student may retain the wireless mobile
computing device after the expiration of the pilot project.
Sec. 32.157. TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION SITES [PILOT]
PROJECT EVALUATION; EXPIRATION. (a) After the expiration of the
demonstration sites [pilot] project, the agency may review the
demonstration sites [pilot] project based on the annual reports the
agency receives from the board of trustees of participating school
districts. The agency may include the review of the demonstration
sites [pilot] project in the comprehensive annual report required
under Section 39.182 that covers the 2012-2013 [2010-2011] school
year.
(b) This subchapter expires August 31, 2013 [2011].
SECTION 3. This act takes effect September 1, 2009.