By:
Eissler, Branch, Hochberg, Harless,
H.B. No. 1632
Cook of Navarro, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of technology by public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 32.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.007.
AGREEMENT WITH PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATION.
(a)
The commissioner may enter into an agreement with a public
broadcasting
station,
or
a
consortium
of
public
broadcasting
stations, under which the station or consortium will provide online
instructional content and educational materials.
(b)
From funds appropriated to the agency, the commissioner
may, under an agreement entered into under Subsection (a), make
instructional
materials
available
through
public
broadcasting
stations for purposes of instruction and professional development
and for use in providing adult education.
(c)
An agreement entered into under Subsection (a) must, to
the extent practicable, provide access to instructional materials
and online content to persons located in all parts of this state.
(d)
For
purposes
of
providing
high-quality
online
instructional materials under this section, the commissioner may:
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(1)
use
federal
funds
that
may
be
H.B. No. 1632
used for those
purposes; or
(2)
use unexpended balances of funds appropriated to the
agency for educational purposes, including adult education.
SECTION 2.
Sections 32.151 and 32.152, Education Code, as
added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2003, are amended to read as follows:
Sec. 32.151.
ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROJECT.
The agency may
by rule establish the technology immersion pilot project [to
provide a wireless mobile computing device to each student] in [a]
participating schools [school and implement the use of software,
on-line courses, and other appropriate learning technologies that
have been shown] to improve academic achievement and the progress
measures listed in Section 32.155(e).
Sec. 32.152.
PILOT
PROJECT
ADMINISTRATION.
The
[If
the
agency establishes the pilot project under Section 32.151, the]
agency shall establish a procedure and develop criteria for the
administration of the pilot project.
In administering the pilot
project, the agency shall:
(1)
select participating [school districts or] schools;
(2)
define the conditions for the distribution and use
of computer equipment and other technologies;
(3)
purchase and distribute computer equipment and other
technologies in a manner that provides different technologies to
different participating campuses;
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(4)
H.B. No. 1632
enter into contracts as necessary to implement the
pilot project;
(5)
monitor local pilot project implementation;
and
(6)
conduct a final evaluation of the pilot project,
including an evaluation of the different technologies distributed
under Subdivision (3).
SECTION 3.
Sections 32.153(a) and (c), Education Code, as
added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2003, are amended to read as follows:
(a)
To implement the pilot project, the agency may use any
gift, grant, or donation given for the pilot project.
The agency
may solicit and accept a gift, grant, or donation of any kind from
any
source,
including
from
a
foundation,
private
entity,
governmental entity, and institution of higher education, for the
implementation of the pilot project.
The agency may use [only
undedicated and unobligated] money from the general revenue fund
for purposes of the pilot project.
(c)
The agency shall use pilot project funds for:
(1)
the purchase of wireless mobile computing devices so
that each student in a participating classroom has a wireless
mobile computing device for use at school and at home;
(2)
the purchase of interactive whole group learning and
assessment tools for each participating classroom;
(3)
the
purchase
of
other
additional computer hardware and software;
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equipment,
including
H.B. No. 1632
the hiring of technical support staff for
(4) [(3)]
school districts or schools participating in the pilot project;
[and]
(5) [(4)]
the
purchase
of
technology-based
learning
materials and resources; and
(6)
to
permit
making
comparisons
under
Section
32.155(e), the provision to schools that are not participating in
the pilot project of additional learning materials and resources
that are not technology-based.
SECTION 4.
The heading to Section 32.154, Education Code, as
added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2003, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 32.154.
SECTION 5.
[DISTRICT OR] SCHOOL SELECTION.
Section
32.154,
Education
Code,
as
added
by
Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003,
is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b)
to read as follows:
(a-1)
In addition to school districts and schools selected
before September 1, 2007, for participation in the technology
immersion pilot project, the agency shall select for participation
in the pilot project for the 2007-2008 and subsequent school years
one middle or junior high school and one high school in each state
senatorial district.
(b)
The agency shall select the participating [districts and]
schools for the pilot project based on each [district's or]
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school's need for the pilot project.
H.B. No. 1632
In selecting participants,
the agency shall consider the following criteria:
(1)
whether the [district or] school has limited access
to educational resources that could be improved through the use of
electronic textbooks or technological equipment that contributes to
student learning [wireless mobile computing devices and other
technologies];
(2)
whether the [district or] school has the following
problems and whether those problems can be mitigated through the
use
of
electronic
textbooks
or
technological
equipment
that
contributes to student learning [wireless mobile computing devices
and other technologies]:
(A)
documented teacher shortages in critical areas;
(B)
limited access to advanced placement courses;
(C)
low
rates
of
satisfactory
performance
on
assessment instruments under Subchapter B, Chapter 39; and
(D)
(3)
the
high dropout rates;
[district's
or]
school's
readiness
to
incorporate technology into its classrooms;
(4)
the possibility of obtaining a trained technology
support staff and high-speed Internet services for the [district
or] school; and
(5)
the methods the [district or] school will use to
measure the progress of the pilot project in the district or school
in accordance with Section 32.155(e).
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SECTION 6.
Section
32.155,
Education
Code,
H.B. No. 1632
as added by
Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003,
is amended by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (f) to
read as follows:
(e)
The board of trustees of each district participating in
the pilot project shall send an annual progress report to the
agency not later than August 1 of each year that the district is
participating in the pilot project.
The report must state in
detail the type of plan being used in the district or school and
the
effect
of
the
pilot
project
on
the
district
or
school,
including:
(1)
the
academic
progress
of
students
who
are
participating in a pilot project, as measured by performance on
assessment instruments;
(2)
if applicable and subject to Subsection (f), a
comparison of student progress in a school or classroom that is
participating
in
the
pilot
project
as
compared
with
student
progress in the schools or classrooms in the district that are not
participating in the pilot project;
(3)
any elements of the pilot project that contribute to
improved student performance on assessment instruments administered
under Section 39.023 or any other assessment instrument required by
the agency;
(4)
any cost savings and improved efficiency relating to
school personnel and the maintenance of facilities;
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(5)
H.B. No. 1632
any effect on student dropout and attendance rates;
(6)
any
effect
on
student
enrollment
in
higher
education;
(7)
any effect on teacher performance and retention;
(8)
any improvement in communications among students,
teachers, parents, and administrators;
(9)
any
improvement
in
parent
involvement
in
the
education of the parent's child;
(10)
any effect on community involvement and support for
the district or school; and
(11)
any increased student proficiency in technologies
that will help prepare the student for becoming a member of the
workforce.
(f)
From funds available for use under the pilot project, the
commissioner
shall
make
grants
to
schools
that
are
not
participating in the pilot project to enable those districts and
schools to:
(1)
obtain additional learning materials and resources,
other than technology-based learning materials and resources, or
employ additional educational personnel; and
(2)
serve as the standards for comparison with schools
participating in the pilot project.
SECTION 7.
Sections 32.154(a) and (c), Education Code, as
added by Chapter 834, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2003, are repealed.
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SECTION 8.
H.B. No. 1632
This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a
vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
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