H. B. 4072
(By Delegates Swartzmiller, Stemple,
Shaver, Renner, Long, Perry and Tabb)
[Introduced January 19, 2004; referred to the
Committee on Education then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §18-2E-7Bill Title of the code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to education technology strategic
plan; rewriting this section; making certain findings; stating
intent and purpose; requiring state board establish education
technology strategic plan to address findings consistent with
intent and purpose; providing minimum areas to be addressed in
plan; providing for expenditure of appropriations consistent
with plan; and eliminating categorical requirements specific
to basic skills and remediation. Title Language
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:`
That §18-2E-7Enacting Section of the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2E. HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
§18-2E-7. Technology in the public schools; education technology
strategic plan; goals; expenditure of appropriations.
(a) Findings. -- The Legislature finds that:
(1) Technology is being utilized in public schools as an
instructional tool that enables teachers to meet the individual
instructional needs of students who differ in learning styles,
learning rates and the motivation to learn;
(2) Technology is being utilized in public schools as an
effective resource for providing corrective, remedial and
enrichment activities
to help students achieve proficiency at grade
level or above in the basic skills of reading, composition and
arithmetic that are essential for advancement to more rigorous
curriculum and success in higher education, occupational and
avocational pursuits;
(3) Technology is being utilized in public schools to ensure
that all students have a basic level of computer literacy that will
enable them to participate fully in a society wherein computers are
an evermore prevalent medium for social, economic, and
informational interaction;
(4) Technology is being utilized in public schools to provide
greater access for students to advanced curricular offerings,
reference information and source knowledge than could be provided
efficiently through traditional on-site delivery formats;
(5) Technology is being utilized in public schools to help
students obtain information on post-secondary educational
opportunities, financial aid, and the credentials and skills required in various occupations
that will help them better prepare
for a successful transition following high school;
(6) Technology is being utilized in public schools to help
students learn to think critically, apply academic knowledge in
real life situations
, make decisions, and gain an understanding of
the modern workplace environment
through simulated workplace
programs;
(7) Technology is being utilized in public schools
as a
resource for teachers by providing them with access to sample
lesson plans, curriculum resources, on-line staff development,
continuing education and college course work; and
(8) Technology is being utilized in public schools
as a tool
for managing information, reporting on measures of accountability,
analyzing student learning and helping to improve student, school
and school system performance.
(b) Intent and purpose. -- In recognition of the growing
utilization of technology in public schools for many diverse
purposes and of its contribution to the quality of education, the
intent and purpose of this section is to establish a unified
approach to the administration and allocation of funds appropriated
for technology in the public schools of this state which meets the
following goals:
(1) Maintaining a reasonable balance in the resources
allocated among the customary diverse uses of technology in the public schools, while allowing flexibility to address unanticipated
priority needs and unusual local circumstances;
(2) Providing for uniformity in technological hardware and
applications to the extent that such uniformity is necessary for
electronically transferring, reporting, sharing and communicating
information between locations, and as deemed prudent for reducing
acquisition cost, avoiding duplication, promoting expeditious
repair and maintenance and facilitating user training, while
allowing flexibility for local innovations and options when such
objectives are reasonably met;
(3) Preserving the integrity of governance, administration,
standards and accountability for technology in the public schools
under the jurisdiction of the state board, while encouraging
collaborative service delivery and infrastructure investments with
other entities that will reduce cost, avoid duplication or improve
services, particularly with respect to other entities such as the
state's colleges and universities, educational broadcasting system,
public libraries and other governmental agencies with compatible
technology interests; and
(4) Improving the long-term ability of the state board to
efficiently manage and direct the resources available for
technology in the public schools concurrent with evolving
technological capabilities and applications
.
(c) Education technology strategic plan. -- On or before the first day of July, two thousand four, the state board shall
establish an education technology strategic
plan that achieves the
intent and purpose of this section. The plan shall
be a continuing
plan that covers a period of not less than three and not more than
five years and is updated on or before the first day of July of
each year.
To advise it on developing and updating the plan, the
state board shall establish an advisory committee consisting of
persons with knowledge and expertise in the utilization of
technology in the public schools for the diverse purposes
including, but not limited to, classroom teachers, counselors,
administrators, technology coordinators, regional education service
agency personnel, and members of the distance learning coordinating
council.
In addition to other criteria considered necessary by the
state board for achieving the intent and purpose of this section,
the education technology strategic plan
shall address the
following:
(1) The strategy for utilizing technology in the public
schools of the state consistent with the intent and purpose of this
section for each of the purposes for which the Legislature finds
that technology is utilized in public schools as described in
subsection (a) of this section and for any other purposes
considered necessary by the state board for
utilizing technology in
the public schools to improve student, school and school system
performance and progress;
(2) The method for allocating the resources available and
developing the capacity necessary to achieve the purposes addressed
in the plan. The method shall include an allowance for reasonable
flexibility as determined by the state board for:
(A)
Counties to receive assistance with the development and
implementation of technological solutions for improving student,
school and school system performance and progress; and
(B) Counties to implement technological solutions that address
local priorities consistent with achieving the major objectives set
forth in the education technology strategic plan;
(3) The strategy for utilizing technology to maintain equity
in the array and quality of educational offerings and professional
qualifications among the counties notwithstanding circumstances of
geography and population density;
(4) The strategy for developing and utilizing the capacity of
the public school system to implement, support and maintain
technology in the public schools through the allocation of funds
either directly or through contractual agreements with county
boards and regional education service agencies for labor, materials
and other costs associated with the installation, set-up, internet
hook-up, wiring, repair and maintenance of technology in the public
schools;
(5) The strategy for ensuring that the capabilities and
capacities of the technology infrastructure within the state and its various regions is adequate for acceptable performance of the
technology being implemented in the public schools, for developing
the necessary capabilities and capacities, or for pursuing
alternative solutions; and
(6) The strategy for maximizing the utility of technology in
the public schools through enhanced student access to learning
tools and resources outside of the normal school day, to the extent
practicable,
such as before and after school, in the evenings, on
weekends and noninstructional days, and during vacations for
student use for homework, remedial work, independent learning,
career planning and adult basic education.
(d) Expenditure of appropriations. -- From the appropriations
for technology in the public schools, the state board shall
allocate and expend funds in accordance with the education
technology strategic plan. The expenditures shall be made
directly, or through lease-purchase arrangements pursuant to the
provisions of article three, chapter five-a of this code, or
through contractual agreements or grants to county boards and
regional education service agencies, or any combination of the
foregoing options as considered prudent by the state board to best
implement the strategic plan. The state board shall submit a
report to the legislative oversight commission on education
accountability annually as soon as practical following the annual
update of the education technology strategic plan. The report shall summarize the expenditures and other related activities
undertaken to achieve the objectives of the plan during the past
fiscal year, all modifications made in the updated education
technology strategic plan and any other matters considered
important by the state board to inform the Legislature on the state
of education technology in the public schools.
(e) The state board shall adopt rules necessary to implement
the provisions of this section.
(f) Nothing in this section requires any specific level of
appropriation by the Legislature.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for a unified
approach to the long-term planning and implementation of technology
in the public schools.
This section has been completely rewritten, therefore
strike-throughs and underscoring have been eliminated.