S-2084.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5906
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State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, Finkbeiner, McAuliffe, Eide, Regala, Kastama, Hewitt, Hochstatter and Kohl‑Welles)
READ FIRST TIME 03/05/01.
AN ACT Relating to technology planning for public schools; creating new sections; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that when the basic education act was enacted in 1977, digital technology as an instructional tool was not available. The legislature further finds that computers and access to vast amounts of information over the internet are becoming increasingly important tools for teaching and learning in classrooms throughout the state of Washington. The legislature further finds that there are large discrepancies in access to technology in different school districts in the state and even in various schools within the same school district. The legislature intends to study the application of technology in schools and school districts across the state, what technology is currently available in the schools, how the technology is funded, the differences in use and access among districts, and the future requirements for technology in the schools.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The technology in education task force is created. The technology in education task force shall develop recommendations about the use of technology and recommendations about funding technology in the schools after conducting a study. The study shall focus on the application of technology in grades three through twelve. The study shall be completed not later than November 1, 2001, and the recommendations shall be submitted to the education and fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate. The study shall include but not be limited to:
(1) The technology currently available in schools and school districts. Technology includes but is not limited to computers, local area networks, and access to electronic media on the internet;
(2) Methods school districts are using currently to fund technology and recommendations for the future;
(3) Plans to update the technology including any replacement schedules;
(4) Training in the use of technology;
(5) Integration of technology into the curriculum;
(6) The different uses of technology in upper elementary grades, middle school, and high school; and
(7) Applications of technology in schools in other states and how that technology is funded.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The technology in education task force shall consist of the following voting members or their designees: The governor; one member from each major caucus of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate; one member from each major caucus of the house of representatives, appointed by the co-speakers of the house of representatives; the superintendent of public instruction; the chair of the information services board; one representative of the community and technical colleges, appointed by the state board for community and technical colleges; one educational service district superintendent, one school district superintendent, one principal, and one teacher, each appointed by the superintendent of public instruction; two representatives appointed by the higher education coordinating board; and one representative of the computer or digital technology industry and three members of the general public, each appointed by the governor. The superintendent of public instruction and the governor, or their designees, shall cochair the task force.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act expires December 1, 2001.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. 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 takes effect immediately.
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