BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to technology grants for school districts; amending RCW 28A.600.370; adding new sections to chapter 28A.650 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW; creating new sections; making appropriations; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that in a society increasingly dependent on information, technology and electronic access to information are critical education components for improving student learning and increasing student success in school and in the workplace. The legislature also finds that with the increased need for technology and electronic access to information there comes an increased need for clear policies and investment in those areas. The return on investment should be in the form of increased relevancy of learning, improved student attainment of the state learning goals, greater student success in institutions of higher education, and expanded work opportunities for students.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.650 RCW to read as follows:

To the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction shall provide technology initiative grants. The purpose of the grants is to provide funds to public school districts to develop and implement collaborative programs with institutions of higher education to enhance student learning through technology and provide students with the opportunity to learn the necessary technology skills for success in higher education and in the workplace. The programs may include, but not be limited to development and implementation of technology education and technology-based classes, on-line mentoring of K-12 students by individuals at institutions of higher education, technological access to resources at higher education for K-12 teachers to enrich the K-12 curriculum, and technological delivery of teacher in-service.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.650 RCW to read as follows:

To the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the state board of education, the higher education coordinating board, and the state board for community and technical colleges shall provide running start technology grants to public school districts to use in conjunction with public institutions of higher education. The purpose of the grants is to provide funds for projects that use technology to provide educational services under RCW 28A.600.300 through 28A.600.390 to high school students at their high school campuses instead of requiring the students to go to the campus of an institution of higher education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.650 RCW to read as follows:

To the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction shall provide funds to public school districts to continue to implement the Washington state technology plan for the K-12 common school system developed under RCW 28A.650.015.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28A.650 RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt timelines and rules as necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW to administer the grants established in sections 2 through 5 of this act.

Sec. 6. RCW 28A.600.370 and 1994 c 205 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

Any state institution of higher education may award postsecondary credit for college level academic and vocational courses successfully completed by a student while in high school and taken ((at)) through an institution of higher education. The state institution of higher education shall not charge a fee for the award of the credits.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 RCW to read as follows:

The board of directors of each school district shall develop policies governing the use of technology, including electronic access to information.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. If specific funding for the purposes of section 2 of this act, referencing section 2 of this act by bill or chapter number and section number, is not provided by June 30, 1996, in the omnibus appropriations act, section 2 of this act is null and void.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. If specific funding for the purposes of section 3 of this act, referencing section 3 of this act by bill or chapter number and section number, is not provided by June 30, 1996, in the omnibus appropriations act, section 3 of this act is null and void.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. If specific funding for the purposes of section 4 of this act, referencing section 4 of this act by bill or chapter number and section number, is not provided by June 30, 1996, in the omnibus appropriations act, section 4 of this act is null and void.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.