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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of technology by public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 32.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.007. AGREEMENT WITH PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATION. |
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(a) The commissioner may enter into an agreement with a public |
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broadcasting station, or a consortium of public broadcasting |
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stations, under which the station or consortium will provide online |
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instructional content and educational materials. |
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(b) From funds appropriated to the agency, the commissioner |
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may, under an agreement entered into under Subsection (a), make |
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instructional materials available through public broadcasting |
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stations for purposes of instruction and professional development |
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and for use in providing adult education. |
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(c) An agreement entered into under Subsection (a) must, to |
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the extent practicable, provide access to instructional materials |
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and online content to persons located in all parts of this state. |
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(d) For purposes of providing high-quality online |
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instructional materials under this section, the commissioner may: |
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(1) use federal funds that may be used for those |
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purposes; or |
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(2) use unexpended balances of funds appropriated to |
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the agency for educational purposes, including adult education. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 32.151 and 32.152, Education Code, as |
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added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2003, are amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.151. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROJECT. The agency |
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may by rule establish the technology immersion pilot project [to
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provide a wireless mobile computing device to each student] in [a] |
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participating schools [school and implement the use of software,
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on-line courses, and other appropriate learning technologies that
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have been shown] to improve academic achievement and the progress |
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measures listed in Section 32.155(e). |
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Sec. 32.152. PILOT PROJECT ADMINISTRATION. The [If the
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agency establishes the pilot project under Section 32.151, the] |
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agency shall establish a procedure and develop criteria for the |
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administration of the pilot project. In administering the pilot |
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project, the agency shall: |
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(1) select participating [school districts or] |
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schools; |
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(2) define the conditions for the distribution and use |
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of computer equipment and other technologies; |
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(3) purchase and distribute computer equipment and |
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other technologies in a manner that provides different technologies |
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to different participating campuses; |
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(4) enter into contracts as necessary to implement the |
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pilot project; |
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(5) monitor local pilot project implementation; and |
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(6) conduct a final evaluation of the pilot project, |
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including an evaluation of the different technologies distributed |
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under Subdivision (3). |
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SECTION 3. Sections 32.153(a) and (c), Education Code, as |
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added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2003, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To implement the pilot project, the agency may use any |
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gift, grant, or donation given for the pilot project. The agency |
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may solicit and accept a gift, grant, or donation of any kind from |
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any source, including from a foundation, private entity, |
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governmental entity, and institution of higher education, for the |
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implementation of the pilot project. The agency may use [only
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undedicated and unobligated] money from the general revenue fund |
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for purposes of the pilot project. |
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(c) The agency shall use pilot project funds for: |
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(1) the purchase of wireless mobile computing devices |
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so that each student in a participating classroom has a wireless |
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mobile computing device for use at school and at home; |
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(2) the purchase of interactive whole group learning |
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and assessment tools for each participating classroom; |
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(3) the purchase of other equipment, including |
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additional computer hardware and software; |
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(4) [(3)] the hiring of technical support staff for |
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school districts or schools participating in the pilot project; |
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and |
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(5) [(4)] the purchase of technology-based learning |
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materials and resources. |
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SECTION 4. The heading to Section 32.154, Education Code, |
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as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2003, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.154. [DISTRICT OR] SCHOOL SELECTION. |
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SECTION 5. Section 32.154, Education Code, as added by |
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Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, |
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is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) |
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to read as follows: |
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(a-1) In addition to school districts and schools selected |
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before September 1, 2007, for participation in the technology |
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immersion pilot project, the agency shall select for participation |
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in the pilot project for the 2007-2008 and subsequent school years: |
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(1) each high school to which a district regularly |
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assigns students who were enrolled in grade eight during the |
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2006-2007 school year at a district school participating in the |
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pilot project; and |
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(2) one middle or junior high school and one high |
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school in each state senatorial district. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1)(1), the [The] |
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agency shall select the participating [districts and] schools for |
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the pilot project based on each [district's or] school's need for |
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the pilot project. In selecting participants, the agency shall |
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consider the following criteria: |
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(1) whether the [district or] school has limited |
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access to educational resources that could be improved through the |
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use of electronic textbooks or technological equipment that |
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contributes to student learning [wireless mobile computing devices
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and other technologies]; |
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(2) whether the [district or] school has the following |
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problems and whether those problems can be mitigated through the |
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use of electronic textbooks or technological equipment that |
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contributes to student learning [wireless mobile computing devices
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and other technologies]: |
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(A) documented teacher shortages in critical |
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areas; |
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(B) limited access to advanced placement |
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courses; |
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(C) low rates of satisfactory performance on |
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assessment instruments under Subchapter B, Chapter 39; and |
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(D) high dropout rates; |
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(3) the [district's or] school's readiness to |
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incorporate technology into its classrooms; |
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(4) the possibility of obtaining a trained technology |
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support staff and high-speed Internet services for the [district
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or] school; and |
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(5) the methods the [district or] school will use to |
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measure the progress of the pilot project in the district or school |
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in accordance with Section 32.155(e). |
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SECTION 6. Sections 32.154(a) and (c), Education Code, as |
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added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2003, are repealed. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |