Rejected by House 3-21-2013

SB359 HFA Walters 3-21 #1

    Delegates Walters, Border-Sheppard, Arvon, Shott, Hamrick, Cowles and Ellington move to amend the bill on page 96, after section 12, after line 32, by inserting a new section, designated section 13, to read as follows:

Ҥ18-3-13. Electronic textbook pilot program.

    (a) The state superintendent shall establish an electronic textbook pilot program to be implemented in three public schools in each of the regional education service areas, which shall include one elementary one middle and one high school in each district, for the duration of four years. The public schools designated by the state superintendent for the pilot shall be diversified among rural, suburban and urban neighborhoods in each area and have significant enrollments of disadvantaged, minority and underachieving students. The designated public schools under the direction of the county board and county superintendent shall work in collaboration with the state board to develop and implement strategies that could be replicated in other public schools to improve academic achievement and provide a more efficient method of providing educational resources to students.

    (b) As used in this section, “electronic textbook” means a portable digital electronic device which displays a textbook or other educational materials or presentations in digital format.

    (c) Beginning in January, 2014, on or before the first day of the regular session of the Legislature, and each year thereafter, the state superintendent shall make a status report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and to the state board. The report may include any recommendations based on the progress of the demonstration project that he or she considers either necessary for improving the operations of the demonstration project or prudent for improving student achievement in other public schools through replication of successful demonstration school programs.”

Adopted

Rejected