Z-1365

AN ACT Relating to education technology; adding new sections to chapter 28A.300 RCW; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. INTENT. The legislature recognizes the ongoing necessity for public schools to use up-to-date technology to meet goals for education. To participate successfully in the contemporary workplace, students must be knowledgeable in the use of state of the art technologies. Workplace technology requirements will continue to change on an ongoing basis and schools must mirror these changes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. DEFINITIONS. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout sections 2 through 6 of this act.

(1) "Education technology" means the effective use of electronic tools and electronic pathways in meeting goals established for education.

(2) "Network" means state-wide integrated linking of education technology systems in schools for transmission of voice, data, video, and imaging.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM. The superintendent of public instruction may establish an education technology section, and through the section shall ensure an effective state-wide education technology program is developed and implemented. The education technology system shall be compatible with other state technology systems to the extent other state systems are up-to-date or suitable for meeting goals established for education. Other state technology systems may link to the education technology system if the capacity exists beyond that required for the education technology system. The superintendent of public instruction shall distribute to educational service districts or school districts on a grant basis, from moneys appropriated for the purposes of this section, funds for:

(1) Establishing regional educational technology support centers for the purpose of providing ongoing educator training, school district cost-benefit analysis, long-range educational technology planning, network planning, distance learning access support, and other technical support;

(2) High capacity electronic communication line leases or electronic tool purchases; and

(3) Start-up funding for school district or educational service district use of education technology.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. RULES. The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules as necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW governing the operation and scope of sections 2 through 7 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint an education technology advisory committee comprised of: Representatives of school building administrators, school district administrators and educational service districts, certificated instructional employees, and businesses. The committee shall advise the superintendent of public instruction on matters pertaining to the implementation of sections 2 through 7 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. GIFTS OR GRANTS FOR EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY. (1) The superintendent of public instruction may receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the superintendent of public instruction and expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments.

(2) The education technology fund is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The superintendent of public instruction shall deposit in the fund all moneys received from gifts, grants, or endowments for education technology. Moneys in the fund may be spent only for education technology. Disbursements from the fund shall be on authorization of the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee. The fund is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Captions used in sections 2 through 6 of this act do not constitute any part of the law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 2 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.300 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The sum of four million eight hundred twenty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.