BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to education technology in schools; adding new sections to chapter 28A.650 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The technology in schools grant program is hereby created. The purpose of the grant program is to increase student learning, consistent with the student learning goals in RCW 28A.150.210, through the expanded and more productive use of technology in Washington's public school system.

(2) Funds from the grant program may be used by school districts for technology hardware and software acquisition, installation of networks, staff training, and other purposes consistent with the purposes of the grant program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) To be eligible for a grant, school districts shall submit a grant application and school district technology plan to the superintendent of public instruction by February 1, 1997. The technology plan shall:

(a) Be curriculum-based;

(b) Align all components of the plan toward student attainment of the student learning goals in RCW 28A.150.210;

(d) Provide for staff training on how to use the technology effectively;

(e) Provide on-line access to resources and communication for all students and educators, including access to the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the district's educational service district, and the center for the improvement of student learning;

(f) Include a long-term commitment by the school district for the operation, maintenance, and upgrading of equipment, including identifying sources of funds; and

(g) Be consistent with applicable provisions of the state-wide technology plan required in RCW 28A.650.015.

(2) The school district technology plans shall be reviewed by a task force created by the superintendent of public instruction that includes state-wide representation. The task force shall make recommendations to the superintendent regarding whether the technology plans have met the eligibility criteria in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) In addition to the submission of a technology plan, school districts also shall make a commitment to provide a financial match to the state grant as calculated in accordance with section 3 of this act. (4) The superintendent of public instruction shall make decisions on the grant applications by March 15, 1997.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The amount of funds granted to school districts with approved applications shall be determined by the superintendent of public instruction based on a formula that includes the following: The number of full-time equivalent students enrolled in the district; the number of full-time equivalent students in all of the approved districts; a ratio based on the relative per student property valuation of school districts in the state; and funds available for the grant program. The minimum grant to a school district shall be twelve thousand dollars.

(2) School districts shall match the state grant with other state or local funds. The match may include private cash or in-kind contributions. Expenditures on technology made before the approval of the district's technology plan may not be used in calculating the local match. The match rate shall be determined by the superintendent of public instruction, and be calculated on a ratio based on the relative per student property valuation of school districts in the state. School districts with higher per student property valuations shall pay a higher match. However, the local match for individual school districts shall not be greater than eighty percent, and the average per pupil weighted match shall be approximately fifty percent.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The superintendent of public instruction may use up to ten percent of the funds appropriated for the technology in schools grant program for assisting school districts in developing technology plans, developing a state-wide network, providing technical assistance to school districts, and managing and evaluating the grant program. The superintendent may delegate any of these responsibilities to educational service districts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules as necessary to implement sections 1 through 4 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.650 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 1996, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.