80R6650 ESH-F

By: Eissler H.B. No. 1632

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of technology by public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 32.005, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), (b-1), and (b-2) to read as follows:

(a) Each school district or open-enrollment charter school is entitled to an allotment of $200 [$30] for each student in average daily attendance or a greater [different] amount for any year provided by appropriation.

(a-1) Subsection (a) applies beginning with the 2011-2012 school year. For the 2007-2008 through 2010-2011 school years, a school district is entitled to an allotment in the following amount, or a greater amount for any year provided by appropriation:

(1) for the 2007-2008 school year, $75;

(2) for the 2008-2009 school year, $100;

(3) for the 2009-2010 school year, $140; and

(4) for the 2010-2011 school year, $175.

(a-2) Subsection (a-1) and this subsection expire September 1, 2011.

(b-1) A school district's allotment under this section must be used in accordance with the district's long-range technology plan filed with the agency. The plan must demonstrate how money from the allotment will be used to address specific outcomes at the school, classroom, and teacher or student levels, including:

(1) any effect on the academic progress of students, as measured by performance on assessment instruments, including assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023;

(2) any elements that contribute to improved student performance on assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023 or other assessment instruments required by the commissioner;

(3) any cost savings or improved efficiency relating to school personnel or the maintenance of school facilities;

(4) any effect on student attendance or dropout rates;

(5) any effect on student enrollment in higher education;

(6) any effect on teacher performance or retention;

(7) any improvement in communications among students, parents, teachers, and administrators;

(8) any improvement in parental involvement in the education of the parent's child;

(9) any effect on community involvement and support for the district or school; and

(10) any increase in student proficiency in technology that will help prepare students for becoming members of the workforce.

(b-2) The agency shall evaluate available technological solutions to determine whether any of the technological solutions evaluated may be used in compliance with Subsections (b) and (b-1). The agency shall:

(1) publish a list of technological solutions evaluated that may be used in compliance with Subsections (b) and (b-1); and

(2) update the list each calendar quarter.

(c) The allotment under this section may be paid from:

(1) the telecommunications infrastructure fund under Subchapter C, Chapter 57, Utilities Code;

(2) the available school fund, to the extent that the amount appropriated from the telecommunications infrastructure fund is not sufficient to fully fund the allotment; or

(3) any other fund that may be used for that purpose and that is identified in the General Appropriations Act as the source of payment of the allotment, to the extent that the amounts appropriated from the funds described by Subdivisions (1) and (2) are not sufficient to fully fund the allotment.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 32.007 to read as follows:

Sec. 32.007. AGREEMENT WITH PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATION. (a) The commissioner may 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) From funds appropriated to the agency, the commissioner may, under an agreement entered into under Subsection (a), make instructional materials available through public broadcasting stations for purposes of instruction and professional development and for use in providing adult education.

(c) An agreement entered into under Subsection (a) must, to the extent practicable, provide access to instructional materials and online content to persons located in all parts of this state.

(d) For purposes of providing high-quality online instructional materials under this section, the commissioner may:

(1) use federal funds that may be used for those purposes; or

(2) use unexpended balances of funds appropriated to the agency for educational purposes, including adult education.

SECTION 3. Section 32.153(a), Education Code, as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is amended to read as follows:

(a) To implement the pilot project, the agency may use any gift, grant, or donation given for the pilot project. The agency may solicit and accept a gift, grant, or donation of any kind from any source, including from a foundation, private entity, governmental entity, and institution of higher education, for the implementation of the pilot project. The agency may use [only undedicated and unobligated] money from the general revenue fund for purposes of the pilot project.

SECTION 4. The heading to Section 32.154, Education Code, as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 32.154. [DISTRICT OR] SCHOOL SELECTION.

SECTION 5. Section 32.154, Education Code, as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) In addition to school districts and schools selected before September 1, 2007, for participation in the technology immersion pilot project, the agency shall select for participation in the pilot project for the 2007-2008 and subsequent school years:

(1) each high school to which a district regularly assigns students who were enrolled in grade eight during the 2006-2007 school year at a district school participating in the pilot project; and

(2) one middle or junior high school and one high school in each state senatorial district.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1)(1), the [The] agency shall select the participating [districts and] schools for the pilot project based on each [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 electronic textbooks or technological equipment that contributes to student learning [wireless mobile computing devices and other technologies];

(2) whether the [district or] school has the following problems and whether those problems can be mitigated through the use of electronic textbooks or technological equipment that contributes to student learning [wireless mobile computing devices 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;

(4) the possibility of obtaining a trained technology support staff and high-speed Internet services for the [district or] school; and

(5) the methods the [district or] school will use to measure the progress of the pilot project in the district or school in accordance with Section 32.155(e).

SECTION 6. Sections 32.154(a) and (c), Education Code, as added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, are repealed.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.