81R2765 EAH-F
By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 322
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of technology by public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 32.005, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 32.005. TECHNOLOGY ALLOTMENT. (a) Each school
district or open-enrollment charter school is entitled to an
allotment of $100 [$30] for each student in average daily
attendance or a greater [different] amount for any year provided by
appropriation.
(a-2) Subsection (a) applies beginning with the 2011-2012
school year. For the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years, a school
district or open-enrollment charter school is entitled to an
allotment in the following amount, or a greater amount for any year
provided by appropriation:
(1) for the 2009-2010 school year, $50; and
(2) for the 2010-2011 school year, $75.
(a-3) Subsection (a-2) and this subsection expire September
1, 2011.
(b) An allotment under this section may be used only to:
(1) provide for the purchase by school districts or
open-enrollment charter schools of electronic textbooks or
technological equipment that contributes to student learning; and
(2) pay for training educational personnel directly
involved in student learning in the appropriate use of electronic
textbooks and for providing for access to technological equipment
for instructional use.
(b-1) A school district's or open-enrollment charter
school's allotment under this section must be used in accordance
with the district's or school's long-range technology plan filed
with the agency. The plan must demonstrate how money from the
allotment will be used to address specific outcomes at the school,
classroom, and teacher or student levels, including:
(1) any effect on the academic progress of students,
as measured by performance on assessment instruments, including
assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023;
(2) any elements that contribute to improved student
performance on assessment instruments administered under Section
39.023 or other assessment instruments required by the
commissioner;
(3) any cost savings or improved efficiency relating
to school personnel or the maintenance of school facilities;
(4) any effect on student attendance or dropout rates;
(5) any effect on student enrollment in higher
education;
(6) any effect on teacher performance or retention;
(7) any improvement in communications among students,
parents, teachers, and administrators;
(8) any improvement in parental involvement in the
education of the parent's child;
(9) any effect on community involvement and support
for the district or school; and
(10) any increase in student proficiency in technology
that will help prepare students for becoming members of the
workforce.
(b-2) The agency shall evaluate available technological
solutions to determine whether any of the technological solutions
evaluated may be used in compliance with Subsections (b) and (b-1).
The agency shall:
(1) publish a list of technological solutions
evaluated that may be used in compliance with Subsections (b) and
(b-1); and
(2) update the list each calendar quarter.
(c) The allotment under this section may be paid from:
(1) the available school fund; or
(2) any other fund that may be used for that purpose
and that is identified in the General Appropriations Act as the
source of payment of the allotment, to the extent that the amount
appropriated from the available school fund is not sufficient to
fully fund the allotment.
SECTION 2. Sections 32.151 and 32.152, Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 32.151. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROJECT. The agency
may by rule establish the technology immersion pilot project [to
provide a wireless mobile computing device to each student] in [a]
participating schools [school and 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. PILOT PROJECT ADMINISTRATION. The [If the
agency establishes the pilot project under Section 32.151, the]
agency shall establish a procedure and develop criteria for the
administration of the pilot project. In administering the pilot
project, the agency shall:
(1) select participating [school districts or]
schools;
(2) define the conditions for the distribution and use
of computer equipment and other technologies;
(3) purchase and distribute computer equipment and
other technologies;
(4) enter into contracts as necessary to implement the
pilot project;
(5) monitor local pilot project implementation; and
(6) conduct a final evaluation of the pilot project.
SECTION 3. Section 32.153, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read
as follows:
(a) To implement the pilot project, the agency may use any
gift, grant, or donation given for the 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 pilot project. The agency may use [only
undedicated and unobligated] money from the general revenue fund
for purposes of the pilot project.
(c) Subject to Subsection (d), the [The] agency shall use
pilot project funds for:
(1) the purchase of wireless mobile computing devices
so that each student in a participating classroom has 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 technical support staff for school
districts or schools participating in the pilot project; and
(4) the purchase of technology-based learning
materials and resources.
(d) In using the available pilot project funds for schools
selected under Section 32.154(a-1)(2) to participate in the pilot
project, the agency:
(1) shall provide each school with an equal amount of
funding;
(2) may permit the funds to be used for any purpose
authorized by Subsection (c); and
(3) is not required to provide for the purchase of
wireless mobile computing devices as provided by Subsection (c)(1).
SECTION 4. The heading to Section 32.154, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 32.154. [DISTRICT OR] SCHOOL SELECTION.
SECTION 5. Section 32.154, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as
follows:
(a-1) In addition to school districts and schools selected
before September 1, 2009, for participation in the technology
immersion pilot project, the agency shall select for participation
in the pilot project for the 2009-2010 and subsequent school years:
(1) each high school to which a district regularly
assigns students who were enrolled in grade eight during the
2008-2009 school year at a district school participating in the
pilot project; and
(2) one middle or junior high school in each state
senatorial district in which no school participated in the pilot
project for the 2008-2009 school year, to the extent funding is
available for that participation after providing funding to high
schools described by Subdivision (1).
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1)(1), the [The]
agency shall select the participating [districts and] schools for
the pilot project based on each [district's or] school's need for
the 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 electronic textbooks or technological equipment that
contributes to student learning [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 electronic textbooks or technological equipment that
contributes to student learning [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).
SECTION 6. Sections 32.154(a) and (c), Education Code, are
repealed.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.