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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a grant program to assist school |
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districts in developing or implementing innovative blended |
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learning initiatives. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.912 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.912. BLENDED LEARNING INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Blended learning" means learning in an |
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environment in which classroom instruction is supplemented with |
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lectures, exercises, and tutorials that students view online at |
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their own pace, either in the classroom or at home. |
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(2) "Individualized learning" is a mastery-based |
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system of learning in which students advance in their lessons based |
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on demonstrated proficiency instead of amount of time spent in the |
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classroom. |
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(b) From funds appropriated for that purpose, the |
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commissioner by rule shall establish an innovation grant program |
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under which participating school districts receive grants to |
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develop or implement blended learning initiatives to improve |
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student learning in the classroom. |
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(c) A school district that receives a grant under this |
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section may use grant funds to: |
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(1) implement a blended learning initiative developed |
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by the district; |
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(2) develop new approaches for blended learning, |
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including individualized learning; |
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(3) convert traditional learning models to blended |
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learning models; or |
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(4) pursue any combination of the activities specified |
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in Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3). |
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(d) The commissioner's rules adopted under this section |
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must: |
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(1) require a school district, in cooperation with |
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agency staff, to establish a timeline, goals, and accountability |
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measures for a project to be developed or implemented using grant |
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funds; and |
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(2) encourage a school district to form partnerships |
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with private sector technology infrastructure providers to achieve |
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the benefit of current private sector expertise and technological |
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capabilities. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |