Federal and State Legislation

January 2010

New National Educational Technology Plan

Four Focus Areas for

Educational Transformation Learning Assessment Teaching Productivity

81st Session of the Texas Legislature Briefing Book

A briefing book detailing legislation passed during the 81st session of the Texas Legislature is now available. About 100 bills impacting public education were approved by lawmakers during their 2009 session. The link to this document is on TEA’s website. The following bills passed related to educational technology:

Legislative Briefing Book

HB 2893—Relating to the technology demonstration sites project HB 3646—Relating to public school finance and programs

(Virtual School Network) HB 4294—Relating to textbooks, electronic textbooks,

instructional material, and technological equipment in public schools

HB 2488—Relating to open-source textbooks and other instructional materials for public schools

HB 1332—Relating to responsibility for public school textbooks and technological equipment and to failure by students to return textbooks or technological equipment

HB 3—relating to public school accountability, curriculum, and promotion requirements (Graduation Requirements)

HB 2893—Technology Demonstration Sites Project

Changes Immersion project name to Technology Demonstrations Sites program

“Electronic Devices” for all students, pedagogical and technical staff, and technology-based resources

TEA to select at least 5 districts Includes a computer lending pilot for state surplus or

other donated computers 50% or more educationally disadvantaged

HB 3646—Virtual School Network and School Finance

Provides allotment of $400 to providing districts and $80 to receiving districts for student who successfully complete courses Part of a normal course load Satisfies requirements for graduation

Course reviews prioritized (HS graduation, college credit, juvenile probation, teacher shortage area, etc.) Other can pay for reviews

Districts can apply to offer own approved Professional development

Virtual School Network

TEA Update Letter (TxVSN.org) separate source of funds will supply the same funding

for online courses provided above a student’s normal course load.

Districts will be paid half of the $400 for initial start up costs and the remainder after the TEA receives verification from Central Operations that the courses were successfully completed.

Districts are not allowed to receive this dedicated funding to serve their own students.

proposing a rule to define a normal course load as seven credits based on a seven period day

Virtual School Network

TEA Update Letter (TxVSN.org) …continued …during the 2009 – 2010 school year. Students may take

a maximum of two online courses per semester, and enrollment priorities have been established that enable the network to ensure equitable opportunities for district and open enrollment charter school students.

Priority will be given to students that need to take courses required for high school graduation.

TxVSN is providing a tool for the pre-assessment of student readiness for online learning. It is strongly recommended that this tool be used to identify the level of support needed to ensure students successfully complete online courses.

TxVSNTEXAS EDUCATION CODETITLE 2. PUBLIC EDUCATIONSUBTITLE E. STUDENTS AND PARENTSCHAPTER 26. PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIESSec. 26.0031. RIGHTS CONCERNING STATE VIRTUAL SCHOOL

NETWORK.

(a) At the time and in the manner that a school district or open-enrollment charter school informs students and parents about courses that are offered in the district's or school's traditional classroom setting, the district or school shall notify parents and students of the option to enroll in an electronic course offered through the state virtual school network under Chapter 30A.

(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school in which a student is enrolled as a full-time student may not unreasonably deny the request of a parent of a student to enroll the student in an electronic course offered through the state virtual school network under Chapter 30A.

HB 4294—Textbooks, electronic textbooks, instructional material, and technological equipment

Allows expenditure of state textbook funds for technological equipment necessary to utilize electronic textbooks and instructional materials…on a list adopted by the commissioner

Required to purchase at a minimum a classroom set of textbooks for foundation courses

Textbook credits can be used to purchase textbooks, electronic textbooks, and equipment to access electronic textbooks and instructional materials

HB 2488—Open-source textbooks and other instructional materials SBOE must adopt state developed open-source

textbooks for secondary courses submitted by certain institutions of higher education or public institutes

Districts that adopt open-source textbooks must order printed copies or provide equipment for students lacking the technology to access

Districts entitled to 50% of savings

HB 1332—Responsibility for public school textbooks and technological equipment and to failure by students to return textbooks or technological equipment

Must return in acceptable condition Forfeits right to free textbooks District must provide for access at school District may withhold students records

PROJECT SHARE

TEA to Launch Project Share