BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2893

By: Hochberg

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Technology Immersion Project (TxTIP), created by the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, was built on the assumption that immersion in technology, rather than a gradual introduction over time, leads to more effective technology use and positive academic outcomes in schools. Under TxTIP, participating public schools were equipped with laptops for every teacher and student, as well as technology-based learning resources, training for teachers, and tech support. In order to monitor the progress of the program, the Texas Center for Educational Research (TCER) partnered with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to conduct a four-year evaluation of TxTIP and to look at the impact of technology immersion on teaching and learning. One major finding of the study was that home learning, or the extent to which students use laptops outside of school for homework or learning games, was the strongest predictor of students' TAKS reading and mathematics scores.

C.S.H.B. 2893 establishes the demonstration sites project, which builds on the findings of the TCER study and expands TxTIP. The demonstration sites project extends technology immersion for in-school and at-home use to include technologies and electronic devices other than laptop computers. Additionally, the bill requires the TEA to develop guidelines for the distribution and a check-out plan for home use of electronic devices. Through the project, the bill seeks to extend learning opportunities from school to home and use multiple technologies to enrich teaching and learning both inside and outside of school.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Education Agency in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2893 amends the Education Code to redesignate the technology immersion pilot project as the technology demonstration sites project and to remove references in law to the project's provisional status as a pilot project. The bill requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by rule to establish the project to demonstrate the use of technology for improving teaching and learning; to use digital tools and resources to extend learning opportunities from school to home; and to exemplify instructional practices and lessons that support academic learning in the classroom and at home. The bill requires the project to use existing home electronic devices or provide access through electronic device check-out options to extend learning at home, rather than provide a wireless mobile computing device to each student. The bill requires the project to make electronic devices available to each student in a participating school to allow students at school and at home to use software, on-line courses, and other appropriate learning technologies that have been shown to improve academic achievement and certain progress measures.

C.S.H.B. 2893 requires TEA, in administering the project, to define the conditions for the distribution and use of electronic devices not currently available to all students, develop guidelines for a distribution and check-out plan for home use of electronic devices, and review the progress made through each demonstration site included in the project. The bill removes requirements for TEA to define the conditions for the distribution and use of computer equipment and other technologies, to purchase and distribute computer equipment and other technologies, to enter into contracts as necessary to implement the pilot project, and to conduct a final evaluation of the pilot project.

C.S.H.B. 2893 transfers from TEA to the participating school districts and schools the requirement to use project funds for certain purposes including the purchase of electronic devices, rather than wireless mobile computing devices, so that each student in a participating classroom has a device for use at school and home and the hiring of pedagogical support staff, in addition to technical support staff, for participating schools or school districts.

C.S.H.B. 2893 requires TEA to select participating districts and schools for the project based on each district's or school's need and technology readiness for the project and removes the selection criteria that TEA was required to consider when selecting participants for the precursor pilot project.

C.S.H.B. 2893 requires TEA to select at least five districts, rather than schools, to participate in the project. The bill replaces references to the wireless mobile computing device provided under the precursor pilot project with references to the electronic devices made accessible through electronic device check-out options under the project and removes a provision authorizing a student to retain a device after the project's expiration.

C.S.H.B. 2893 authorizes TEA to include the review of the project in the required comprehensive annual report covering the 2012-2013 school year, replacing a similar provision previously applicable to the precursor pilot project.

C.S.H.B. 2893 extends the statute's expiration from August 31, 2011, to August 31, 2013.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2893 differs from the original in several nonsubstantive ways. The substitute requires the project to use existing home electronic devices or provide students access through electronic device checkout options, whereas the original requires the project to leverage existing home computing devices or provide students access through electronic device checkout options. The substitute transfers from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to the participating school districts and schools the requirement to use project funds for the purposes enumerated in the bill, whereas the original transfers that requirement to the selected sites. The substitute authorizes TEA to select at least one school district in which each school in the district participates in the project, whereas the original authorizes the agency to select at least one entire school district to participate in the demonstration sites project.  The substitute refers to the demonstration sites project only in the applicable subchapter heading and in the statute section authorizing the agency to establish the project, whereas the original uses that term in each reference to the project throughout the subchapter.