By A. Smith of Harris, Finnell H.B. No. 183 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to developing and promoting educational technology through 1-3 pilot, model, or demonstration projects. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 14, Education Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 14.0451 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 14.0451. PROJECTS FOR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY. (a) The 1-8 Central Education Agency shall establish one or more pilot, model, 1-9 or demonstration projects as the agency determines is appropriate 1-10 to test the effectiveness and feasibility of educational 1-11 technologies not currently in general use in the school districts 1-12 of this state, including computer-assisted instruction and 1-13 instructional management and telecommunications instruction. A 1-14 project may be conducted in one or more entire school districts or 1-15 in one or more individual schools as the agency determines is 1-16 appropriate. 1-17 (b) In designing projects under this section, the agency may 1-18 attempt to address any special educational needs or concerns that 1-19 the agency determines may be served by educational technologies, 1-20 such as: 1-21 (1) basic skills improvement; 1-22 (2) curriculum enhancement and diversity; 1-23 (3) dropout prevention; 1-24 (4) adult education and literacy and enhancement of 2-1 adult work force skills and competency; 2-2 (5) mathematics and science, foreign language, English 2-3 as a second language, and bilingual education; 2-4 (6) school districts with high concentrations of 2-5 students from low-income families; 2-6 (7) rural school districts and others with restricted 2-7 educational opportunities; 2-8 (8) students with special needs, including migratory 2-9 students, gifted students, and students with disabilities; 2-10 (9) early childhood education; 2-11 (10) teacher training and assistance; 2-12 (11) school system management; and 2-13 (12) coordination among schools, junior colleges, and 2-14 other off-campus centers. 2-15 (c) The agency shall design the projects to encourage the 2-16 participation and support of the private sector, state and federal 2-17 agencies, and junior colleges and other institutions of higher 2-18 education. The agency may design a project to qualify for specific 2-19 local, state, federal, or private grants or other support, and may 2-20 accept gifts, grants, or other financial or in-kind support for 2-21 purposes of this section. 2-22 (d) The agency may suspend for the duration of a project at 2-23 a particular site a requirement or prohibition imposed by state law 2-24 limitations that hinders the application of the technology or is 2-25 made unnecessary by the use of the technology. 2-26 (e) The agency shall ensure to the extent practicable that 2-27 projects established under this section do not result in the use of 3-1 advertising or commercialization in the classroom. 3-2 (f) To participate in a project, a school district must 3-3 apply to the agency. The agency shall notify each school district 3-4 of each project in a manner that gives each school district a 3-5 reasonable opportunity to apply for participation. The agency may 3-6 impose any conditions on the participation of a school district in 3-7 a project that the agency determines to be appropriate. 3-8 (g) The agency shall study the effectiveness and feasibility 3-9 of educational technologies included in a project and shall report 3-10 to the legislature annually the results of its studies. Its 3-11 reports shall include any recommendations for the development, 3-12 implementation, or coordination of educational technologies for use 3-13 in the school districts of this state. 3-14 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 3-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-19 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-20 passage, and it is so enacted.