78R2395 SLO-D
By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 396
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a technology immersion pilot project in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. TECHNOLOGY IMMERSION PILOT PROJECT
Sec. 32.151. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROJECT. The agency
shall by rule establish the technology immersion pilot project to:
(1) provide a laptop computer to each student in a
participating school; and
(2) implement the use of certain software, on-line
courses, and other appropriate learning technologies to improve
academic achievement in a participating school.
Sec. 32.152. PILOT PROJECT ADMINISTRATION. 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.
Sec. 32.153. PILOT PROJECT FUNDING. (a) The agency may
obtain funds for the pilot project, to the extent possible, from the
telecommunications infrastructure fund.
(b) The agency shall use pilot project funds for:
(1) the purchase of laptop computers so that each
student in a participating classroom has a laptop computer 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.
(c) The agency may not allocate more than $1 million for a
school participating in the pilot project.
Sec. 32.154. DISTRICT OR SCHOOL SELECTION. (a) A school
district may apply to the agency for the establishment of a
technology immersion 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 pilot project based on the 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
laptop computers and other technologies;
(2) whether the district or school has the following
problems and whether those problems can be mitigated through the
use of laptop computers 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; and
(4) the possibility of obtaining a trained technology
support staff and high speed Internet services for the district or
school.
(c) The agency shall if possible select at least five
schools to participate in the pilot project. At least one pilot
project should include students in grades 6-12. The agency shall if
possible select at least one entire school district and at least one
entire school in a second district to participate in the 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.
(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 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 pilot
project; and
(2) the technological and nontechnological resources
that are necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the
pilot project.
(d) The team shall recommend to the board how the 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
pilot project funds to the board.
(e) The board of trustees of each district participating in
the 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 pilot project. The report must state in
detail:
(1) the type of plan being used in the district or
school;
(2) the academic progress of students who are
participating in a pilot project, as measured by performance on
assessment instruments; and
(3) if applicable, a comparison of student progress in
a school or classroom that is participating in the pilot project as
compared with student progress in the schools or classrooms in the
district that are not participating in the pilot project.
Sec. 32.156. COMPUTER RETENTION. Each student
participating in the pilot project may retain the laptop computer
provided under the pilot project as long as the student is enrolled
in a school in a participating school district. The student may
retain the laptop computer after the expiration of the pilot
project.
Sec. 32.157. PILOT PROJECT EVALUATION; EXPIRATION. (a)
After the expiration of the three-year pilot project, the agency
shall review the pilot project based on the annual reports the
agency receives from the board of trustees of participating school
districts. The agency shall include the review of the pilot project
in the comprehensive annual report required under Section 39.182
that covers the 2006-2007 school year.
(b) This subchapter expires August 31, 2007.
SECTION 2. The Texas Education Agency shall adopt rules to
implement Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Education Code, as added by
this Act, not later than January 1, 2004. The agency shall make the
technology immersion pilot project available for participation
beginning with the 2004-2005 school year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.