81R2765 EAH-F
 
  By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 322
 
 
 
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 to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 32.005.  TECHNOLOGY ALLOTMENT.  (a)  Each school
  district or open-enrollment charter school is entitled to an
  allotment of $100 [$30] for each student in average daily
  attendance or a greater [different] amount for any year provided by
  appropriation.
         (a-2)  Subsection (a) applies beginning with the 2011-2012
  school year.  For the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years, a school
  district or open-enrollment charter school is entitled to an
  allotment in the following amount, or a greater amount for any year
  provided by appropriation:
               (1)  for the 2009-2010 school year, $50; and
               (2)  for the 2010-2011 school year, $75.
         (a-3)  Subsection (a-2) and this subsection expire September
  1, 2011.
         (b)  An allotment under this section may be used only to:
               (1)  provide for the purchase by school districts or
  open-enrollment charter schools of electronic textbooks or
  technological equipment that contributes to student learning; and
               (2)  pay for training educational personnel directly
  involved in student learning in the appropriate use of electronic
  textbooks and for providing for access to technological equipment
  for instructional use.
         (b-1)  A school district's or open-enrollment charter
  school's allotment under this section must be used in accordance
  with the district's or school'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 available school fund; or
               (2)  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 amount
  appropriated from the available school fund is not sufficient to
  fully fund the allotment.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 32.151 and 32.152, Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 32.151.  ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROJECT. The agency
  may by rule establish the technology immersion pilot project [to
  provide a wireless mobile computing device to each student] in [a]
  participating schools [school and implement the use of software,
  on-line courses, and other appropriate learning technologies that
  have been shown] to improve academic achievement and the progress
  measures listed in Section 32.155(e).
         Sec. 32.152.  PILOT PROJECT ADMINISTRATION.  The [If the
  agency establishes the pilot project under Section 32.151, the]
  agency shall establish a procedure and develop criteria for the
  administration of the pilot project. In administering the pilot
  project, the agency shall:
               (1)  select participating [school districts or]
  schools;
               (2)  define the conditions for the distribution and use
  of computer equipment and other technologies;
               (3)  purchase and distribute computer equipment and
  other technologies;
               (4)  enter into contracts as necessary to implement the
  pilot project;
               (5)  monitor local pilot project implementation; and
               (6)  conduct a final evaluation of the pilot project.
         SECTION 3.  Section 32.153, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (d) 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.
         (c)  Subject to Subsection (d), the [The] agency shall use
  pilot project funds for:
               (1)  the purchase of wireless mobile computing devices
  so that each student in a participating classroom has a wireless
  mobile computing device for use at school and at home;
               (2)  the purchase of other equipment, including
  additional computer hardware and software;
               (3)  the hiring of technical support staff for school
  districts or schools participating in the pilot project; and
               (4)  the purchase of technology-based learning
  materials and resources.
         (d)  In using the available pilot project funds for schools
  selected under Section 32.154(a-1)(2) to participate in the pilot
  project, the agency:
               (1)  shall provide each school with an equal amount of
  funding;
               (2)  may permit the funds to be used for any purpose
  authorized by Subsection (c); and
               (3)  is not required to provide for the purchase of
  wireless mobile computing devices as provided by Subsection (c)(1).
         SECTION 4.  The heading to Section 32.154, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 32.154.  [DISTRICT OR] SCHOOL SELECTION.
         SECTION 5.  Section 32.154, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as
  follows:
         (a-1)  In addition to school districts and schools selected
  before September 1, 2009, for participation in the technology
  immersion pilot project, the agency shall select for participation
  in the pilot project for the 2009-2010 and subsequent school years:
               (1)  each high school to which a district regularly
  assigns students who were enrolled in grade eight during the
  2008-2009 school year at a district school participating in the
  pilot project; and
               (2)  one middle or junior high school in each state
  senatorial district in which no school participated in the pilot
  project for the 2008-2009 school year, to the extent funding is
  available for that participation after providing funding to high
  schools described by Subdivision (1).
         (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, 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, 2009.