BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1632
By: Eissler et al. (Shapleigh)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Technology funding for school districts has remained near the same level for the last decade. Texas schoolchildren need increased access to technology in order to become technologically literate and obtain the skills necessary for a modern-day workforce and the state needs to regain momentum in educational technology by dedicating funds to creating and funding modern-day classrooms.
H.B. 1632 expands the Texas Technology Immersion Pilot project and authorizes the Texas Education Agency to use money from the general revenue fund for purposes of the pilot project.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Education Agency is modified in SECTION 2 (Section 32.151, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Education Code, by adding Section 32.007, as follows:
Sec. 32.007. AGREEMENT WITH PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATION. (a) Authorizes the commissioner of education (commissioner) to enter into an agreement with a public broadcasting station, or a consortium of public broadcasting stations, under which the station or consortium will provide online instructional content and educational materials.
(b) Authorizes the commissioner to make instructional materials available through public broadcasting stations for purposes of instruction and professional development and for use in providing adult education, under an agreement entered into under Subsection (a), from funds appropriated to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
(c) Requires an agreement entered into under Subsection (a) to provide, to the extent practicable, access to instructional materials and online content to persons located in all parts of this state.
(d) Authorizes the commissioner, for purposes of providing high-quality online instructional materials under this section, to use federal funds that may be used for those purposes or use unexpended balances of funds appropriated to TEA for educational purposes, including adult education.
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 32.151 and 32.152, Education Code, as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, as follows:
Sec. 32.151. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROJECT. Authorizes TEA to by rule establish the technology immersion pilot project (pilot project) in participating schools to improve academic achievement and the progress measures listed in Section 32.155(e). Deletes exiting text as it relates to providing a wireless mobile computing device to each student and implementing the use of software, on-line courses, and other appropriate learning technologies.
Sec. 32.152. PILOT PROJECT ADMINISTRATION. Deletes existing text referencing if TEA establishes the pilot project under Section 32.151. Deletes existing text requiring TEA to select participating school districts. Requires TEA to purchase and distribute computer equipment and other technologies in a manner that provides different technologies to different participating campuses. Requires TEA to conduct a final evaluation of the pilot project, including an evaluation of the different technologies distributed under Subdivision (3).
SECTION 3. Amends Sections 32.153(a) and (c), Education Code, as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, as follows:
(a) Deletes existing text authorizing TEA to only use undedicated and unobligated money from the general revenue fund for purposes of the pilot project.
(c) Requires TEA to use pilot project funds for the purchase of interactive whole group learning and assessment tools for each participating classroom. Requires TEA to use pilot project funds to permit making comparisons under Section 32.155(e), the provisions to schools that are not participating in the pilot project of additional learning materials and resources that are not technology-based.
SECTION 4. Amends the heading to Section 32.154, Education Code, as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, to read as follows:
Sec. 32.154. SCHOOL SELECTION.
SECTION 5. Amends Section 32.154, Education Code, as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b), as follows:
(a-1) Requires TEA, in addition to school districts and schools selected before September 1, 2007, for participation in the pilot project, to select for participation in the pilot project for the 2007-2008 and subsequent school years one middle or junior high school and one high school in each state senatorial district.
(b) Deletes existing text referencing a district. Requires TEA in selecting the participating schools for the pilot project to consider whether the 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, rather than the use of wireless mobile computing devices and other technologies, and whether the school has certain problems that can be mitigate through the use of electronic textbooks or technological equipment that contributes to student learning. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 6. Amends Section 32.155, Education Code, as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (f), as follows:
(e) Provides that the comparison of student progress in a school or classroom that is participating in the pilot project that is to be included in a report to TEA is subject to Subsection (f).
(f) Requires the commissioner to make grants to schools that are not participating in the pilot project, from funds available for use under the pilot project, to enable those districts and schools to obtain additional learning materials and resources, other than technology-based learning materials and resources, or employ additional education personnel; and serve as the standards for comparison with schools participating in the pilot project.
SECTION 7. Repealer: Sections 32.154(a) (authorizing a school district to apply to TEA 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) and (c) (regarding the TEA's selection process for participation in the pilot project), Education Code, as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003.
SECTION 8. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.