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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the technology demonstration sites project. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 32, subchapter D of the |
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Education Code is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION SITES [IMMERSION
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PILOT] PROJECT |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 32, subchapter D of the Education Code is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.151. ESTABLISHMENT OF DEMONSTRATION SITES [PILOT] |
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PROJECT. (a) The agency may by rule establish the technology |
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demonstration sites [immersion pilot] project to: |
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(1) demonstrate the use of technology for improving |
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teaching and learning; |
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(2) leverage digital tools and resources to extend |
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learning opportunities from school to home; and |
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(3) exemplify instructional practices and lessons |
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that support academic learning in the classroom and at home. |
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(b) The demonstration site project shall leverage existing |
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home computing devices [provide a wireless mobile computing device] |
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or provide access through electronic device check-out options to |
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extend learning at home. Electronic devices shall be made |
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available to each student in a participating school [and] to allow |
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students at school and home to 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. DEMONSTRATION SITES [PILOT] PROJECT |
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ADMINISTRATION. If the agency establishes the demonstration sites |
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[pilot] project under Section 32.151, the agency shall establish a |
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procedure and develop criteria for the administration of the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project. In administering the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project, the agency shall: |
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(1) select participating school districts or schools; |
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(2) define the conditions for the distribution and use |
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of electronic devices not currently available to all students |
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[computer equipment and other technologies]; |
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(3) develop guidelines for a distribution and |
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check-out plan for home use of the devices [purchase and distribute
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computer equipment and other technologies]; |
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(4)
enter into contracts as necessary to implement the
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pilot project;
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(4) [(5)] monitor local demonstration sites [pilot] |
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project implementation; and |
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(5) [(6)] review the progress made through the |
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demonstration sites [conduct a final evaluation of the pilot
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project]. |
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Sec. 32.153. DEMONSTRATION SITES [PILOT] PROJECT FUNDING. |
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(a) To implement the demonstration sites [pilot] project, the |
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agency may use any gift, grant, or donation given for the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project. The agency may solicit and |
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accept a gift, grant, or donation of any kind from any source, |
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including from a foundation, private entity, governmental entity, |
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and institution of higher education, for the implementation of the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project. The agency may use only |
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undedicated and unobligated money from the general revenue fund for |
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purposes of the demonstration sites [pilot] project. |
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(b) Funds for the demonstration sites [pilot] project may |
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not be used for the construction of a building or other facility. |
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(c) The selected sites [agency] shall use demonstration |
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sites [pilot] project funds for: |
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(1) the purchase of electronic [wireless mobile
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computing] devices so that each student in a participating |
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classroom has an electronic [a wireless mobile computing] device |
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for use at school and at home; |
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(2) the purchase of other equipment, including |
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[additional] computer hardware and software; |
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(3) the hiring of pedagogical and technical support |
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staff for school districts or schools participating in the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project; and |
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(4) the purchase of technology-based learning |
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materials and resources. |
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(d) Repealed by Acts 2006, 79th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 5, |
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Sec. 14.03, eff. May 31, 2006. |
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(e) The demonstration sites [pilot] project may be |
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implemented only if sufficient funds are available under this |
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section for that purpose. |
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Sec. 32.154. DISTRICT OR SCHOOL SELECTION. (a) A school |
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district may apply to the agency for the establishment of a |
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technology [immersion] demonstration sites [pilot] project for the |
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entire district or for a particular school or group of schools in |
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the district. |
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(b) The agency shall select the participating districts and |
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schools for the demonstration sites [pilot] project based on each |
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district's or school's need and technology readiness for the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project. [In selecting participants,
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the agency shall consider the following criteria:
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(1)
whether the district or school has limited access
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to educational resources that could be improved through the use of
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wireless mobile computing devices 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 wireless mobile computing devices 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 or
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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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(c) The agency shall [if possible] select at least five |
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districts [schools] to participate in the demonstration sites |
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[pilot] project. At least one demonstration sites [pilot] project |
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should include students in grades 6-12. The agency may select at |
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least one entire school district and at least one entire school in a
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second district to participate in the demonstration sites [pilot] |
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project. |
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Sec. 32.155. COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE PROGRESS TEAM. |
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(a) Each participating school district or school shall establish a |
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community educational pipeline progress team to assist in |
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developing and implementing the technology [immersion] |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project. |
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(b) The board of trustees of a participating school |
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district, or of a district in which a participating school is |
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located, shall appoint individuals to the team. The team may be |
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composed of: |
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(1) educators; |
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(2) district-level administrators; |
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(3) community leaders; |
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(4) parents of students who attend a participating |
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school; and |
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(5) any other individual the board finds appropriate. |
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(c) The team shall develop an academic improvement plan that |
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details how the demonstration sites [pilot] project should be |
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implemented in the participating district or school. In developing |
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the academic improvement plan, the team shall consider: |
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(1) the educational problems in the district or school |
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that could be mitigated through the implementation of the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project; and |
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(2) the technological and nontechnological resources |
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that are necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project. |
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(d) The team shall recommend to the board of trustees how |
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the demonstration sites [pilot] project funds should be used to |
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implement the academic improvement plan developed under Subsection |
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(c). The team may recommend annually any necessary changes in the |
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academic improvement plan to the board. The agency must approve the |
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academic improvement plan, or any changes in the academic |
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improvement plan, before disbursing demonstration sites [pilot] |
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project funds to the board. |
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(e) The board of trustees of each district participating in |
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the demonstration sites [pilot] project shall send an annual |
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progress report to the agency not later than August 1 of each year |
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that the district is participating in the demonstration sites |
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[pilot] project. The report must state in detail the type of plan |
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being used in the district or school and the effect of the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project on the district or school, |
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including: |
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(1) the academic progress of students who are |
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participating in a demonstration sites [pilot] project, as measured |
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by performance on assessment instruments; |
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(2) if applicable, a comparison of student progress in |
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a school or classroom that is participating in the demonstration |
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sites [pilot] project as compared with student progress in the |
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schools or classrooms in the district that are not participating in |
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the demonstration sites [pilot] project; |
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(3) any elements of the demonstration sites [pilot] |
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project that contribute to improved student performance on |
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assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023 or any |
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other assessment instrument required by the agency; |
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(4) any cost savings and improved efficiency relating |
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to school personnel and the maintenance of facilities; |
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(5) any effect on student dropout and attendance |
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rates; |
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(6) any effect on student enrollment in higher |
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education; |
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(7) any effect on teacher performance and retention; |
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(8) any improvement in communications among students, |
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teachers, parents, and administrators; |
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(9) any improvement in parent involvement in the |
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education of the parent's child; |
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(10) any effect on community involvement and support |
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for the district or school; and |
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(11) any increased student proficiency in |
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technologies that will help prepare the student for becoming a |
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member of the workforce. |
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Sec. 32.156. ELECTRONIC DEVICE [COMPUTER] RETENTION. Each |
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student participating in the demonstration sites [pilot] project |
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may retain electronic devices [the wireless mobile computing
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device] provided under the demonstration sites [pilot] project as |
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long as the student is enrolled in a school in a participating |
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school district. The student may retain the wireless mobile
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computing device after the expiration of the pilot project.
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Sec. 32.157. TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION SITES [PILOT] |
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PROJECT EVALUATION; EXPIRATION. (a) After the expiration of the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project, the agency may review the |
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demonstration sites [pilot] project based on the annual reports the |
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agency receives from the board of trustees of participating school |
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districts. The agency may include the review of the demonstration |
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sites [pilot] project in the comprehensive annual report required |
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under Section 39.182 that covers the 2012-2013 [2010-2011] school |
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year. |
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(b) This subchapter expires August 31, 2013 [2011]. |
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SECTION 3. This act takes effect September 1, 2009. |