1-1 By: A. Smith of Harris, Finnell H.B. No. 183
1-2 (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister)
1-3 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 13, 1993;
1-4 April 14, 1993, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-5 Education; May 6, 1993, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-6 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 6, 1993, sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE VOTE
1-8 Yea Nay PNV Absent
1-9 Ratliff x
1-10 Haley x
1-11 Barrientos x
1-12 Bivins x
1-13 Harris of Tarrant x
1-14 Luna x
1-15 Montford x
1-16 Shapiro x
1-17 Sibley x
1-18 Turner x
1-19 Zaffirini x
1-20 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-21 AN ACT
1-22 relating to developing and promoting educational technology through
1-23 pilot, model, or demonstration projects.
1-24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-25 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 14, Education Code, is
1-26 amended by adding Section 14.0451 to read as follows:
1-27 Sec. 14.0451. PROJECTS FOR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY. (a) The
1-28 Central Education Agency shall establish one or more pilot, model,
1-29 or demonstration projects as the agency determines is appropriate
1-30 to test the effectiveness and feasibility of educational
1-31 technologies not currently in general use in the school districts
1-32 of this state, including computer-assisted instruction and
1-33 instructional management and telecommunications instruction. A
1-34 project may be conducted in one or more entire school districts or
1-35 in one or more individual schools as the agency determines is
1-36 appropriate.
1-37 (b) In designing projects under this section, the agency may
1-38 attempt to address any special educational needs or concerns that
1-39 the agency determines may be served by educational technologies,
1-40 such as:
1-41 (1) basic skills improvement;
1-42 (2) curriculum enhancement and diversity;
1-43 (3) dropout prevention;
1-44 (4) adult education and literacy and enhancement of
1-45 adult work force skills and competency;
1-46 (5) mathematics and science, foreign language, English
1-47 as a second language, and bilingual education;
1-48 (6) school districts with high concentrations of
1-49 students from low-income families;
1-50 (7) rural school districts and others with restricted
1-51 educational opportunities;
1-52 (8) students with special needs, including migratory
1-53 students, gifted students, and students with disabilities;
1-54 (9) early childhood education;
1-55 (10) teacher training and assistance;
1-56 (11) school system management; and
1-57 (12) coordination among schools, junior colleges, and
1-58 other off-campus centers.
1-59 (c) The agency shall design the projects to encourage the
1-60 participation and support of the private sector, state and federal
1-61 agencies, and junior colleges and other institutions of higher
1-62 education. The agency may design a project to qualify for specific
1-63 local, state, federal, or private grants or other support, and may
1-64 accept gifts, grants, or other financial or in-kind support for
1-65 purposes of this section.
1-66 (d) The agency may suspend for the duration of a project at
1-67 a particular site a requirement or prohibition imposed by state law
1-68 limitations that hinders the application of the technology or is
2-1 made unnecessary by the use of the technology.
2-2 (e) The agency shall ensure to the extent practicable that
2-3 projects established under this section do not result in the use of
2-4 advertising or commercialization in the classroom.
2-5 (f) To participate in a project, a school district must
2-6 apply to the agency. The agency shall notify each school district
2-7 of each project in a manner that gives each school district a
2-8 reasonable opportunity to apply for participation. The agency may
2-9 impose any conditions on the participation of a school district in
2-10 a project that the agency determines to be appropriate.
2-11 (g) The agency shall study the effectiveness and feasibility
2-12 of educational technologies included in a project and shall report
2-13 to the legislature annually the results of its studies. Its
2-14 reports shall include any recommendations for the development,
2-15 implementation, or coordination of educational technologies for use
2-16 in the school districts of this state.
2-17 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
2-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-22 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-23 passage, and it is so enacted.
2-24 * * * * *
2-25 Austin,
2-26 Texas
2-27 May 6, 1993
2-28 Hon. Bob Bullock
2-29 President of the Senate
2-30 Sir:
2-31 We, your Committee on Education to which was referred H.B. No. 183,
2-32 have had the same under consideration, and I am instructed to
2-33 report it back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
2-34 pass and be printed.
2-35 Ratliff,
2-36 Chairman
2-37 * * * * *
2-38 WITNESSES
2-39 FOR AGAINST ON
2-40 ___________________________________________________________________
2-41 Name: Edward Adams x
2-42 Representing: IBM Corporation
2-43 City: Austin
2-44 -------------------------------------------------------------------
2-45 Name: Geoff Fletcher x
2-46 Representing: Texas Education Agency
2-47 City: Austin
2-48 -------------------------------------------------------------------
2-49 Name: Robin Gilchrist x
2-50 Representing: Texans for Education
2-51 City: Austin
2-52 -------------------------------------------------------------------
2-53 Name: Pat Hanks x
2-54 Representing: Assn. of Tx Profsnl Educators
2-55 City: Austin
2-56 -------------------------------------------------------------------
2-57 Name: Sandy Kibby x
2-58 Representing: Texas PTA
2-59 City: Austin
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