From the ECS State Policy Database Technology--Equitable Access

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary KY Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Directs the Legislative Research Commission to establish the Task Force on Student Access to Technology to develop a strategy and funding mechanism to provide 5th and 6th graders with access to devices such as laptops, tablets, netbooks, and e-readers for school and home use. Requires that the study review the statewide availability of broadband necessary for students to best use their computing devices at home. Identifies task force membership, and directs the task force to report its findings to the legislative research commission by December 1, 2012. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/12RS/SB95/bill.doc Title: S.B. 95 - Task Force on Student Access to Technology Source: www.lrc.ky.gov NC Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 06/2011 P-12 Requires the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) program to report to the state board and maintain an administrative office at the department of public instruction. Requires that the director of NCVPS ensure that students in rural and low-wealth county local school administrative units have access to e-learning courses. Requires that e-learning instructional opportunities include courses required in the standard course of study for high school graduation and AP offerings not otherwise available. Repeals section 7.4 of S.L. 2010-31, regarding the NCVPS allotment formula (page 21 of 189 http://www.ncleg.net/fiscalresearch/budget_legislation/budget_legislation_pdfs/2010%20Appropriations%20Act.pdf). Directs the state board to take specified steps to implement an allotment formula for NCVPS beginning with the 2011-2012 school year. Directs NCVPS to provide the NCVPS program at no cost to all students enrolled in North Carolina public schools, Department of Defense schools, and schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Directs the state board, in establishing the fee structure and payment structure for NCVPS, to consider recommendations from the eLearning Commission and the NCVPS Advisory Board. Directs the state board to establish a separate per student tuition for out-of-state, home-schooled, and private school students. Requires the board to direct NCVPS to develop a plan by September 15, 2011 to generate revenue from the sale of courses to out-of-state educational entities; requires that such revenue be used to offset instructional costs to local school administrative units and charter schools. Beginning in 2011, requires that the director of NCVPS submit a report on NCVPS to the state board by December 1 of each year. Requires that the report use data from the previous fiscal year and include statistics on actual versus projected costs to local school administrative units and charter schools, student enrollment, virtual teacher salaries, and measures of academic achievement. Requires that the NCVPS director continue specified efforts related to quality of course offerings, elimination of course duplication, and alignment of courses to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Directs the state board to reduce each district or charter school's classroom teacher allotment on the basis of ADM in grades 6-12 to provide $2,866,923 for NCVPS in the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Requires that the allotment reduction continue in future fiscal years and be adjusted annually based upon the percentage growth in NCVPS enrollment. Also requires that in fiscal year 2011-2012, the allotment to districts and charter schools be reduced to provide $2 million to create an NCVPS enrollment reserve, to be used to cover the NCVPS instructional costs of local school administrative units or charter schools with enrollments exceeding projected NCVPS enrollment. Beginning in fiscal year 2012-2013, requires the state board to annually reduce each local school administrative unit's or charter school's classroom teacher allotment, or other allotment, as determined by the state board, on the basis of ADM in grades 6-12 an amount that is the difference between $2,000,000 and the balance of the NCVPS enrollment reserve. Pages 54-56 of 342: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H200v9.pdf Title: H.B. 200 - North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) Source: www.ncleg.net FL Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Postsec. Repeals provisions relating to programs that were never implemented or are no longer funded. The programs are: Digital Divide Council and the associated Pilot Project for Discounted Computers and Internet Access for Low-Income Students; the Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce; the Community and Faith-based Organizations Initiative; the Community and Library Technology Access Partnership; the Community computer access grant program; Adult Literacy Centers; the Florida Literacy Corps; Preteacher and Teacher Education Pilot programs, the Teacher Education Pilot Programs for High-Achieving Students; the Merit Award Program; the Critical Teacher Shortage Program, which includes: the Florida Teacher Scholarship and Forgivable Loan Program, the Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program, and the Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness Program. The legislation also repeals professional service contracts for instructional staff and the requirement for students who took Algebra I in the middle grades from 2007-2008 through 2009-2010 to take the Algebra I end-of-course assessment in the 2010-2011 school year. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7087er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7087&Session=2011 Title: H.B. 7087 Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov WV Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Updates process for adopting textbooks and other instructional material; replaces the terms "textbooks", "instructional materials", and "learning technologies" with "instructional resources"; modifies the limit on adoption cycles; provides for a listing of instructional resources on the state multiple list; requires a method of review and adds new and substantially revised resources to the multiple list; provides county waivers; provides the multiple list to be in an electronic format; revising the bidding, selection and approval process; requiring contracts to be filed pursuant to the state board process; providing for review of electronic instructional resources; providing for regional education service agency level selection teams; and ensuring equity of access to electronic instructional resources for all students. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB631%20SUB1%20enr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=631 Title: S.B. 631 Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Creates the Children's Low-Cost Laptop Act. Requires the state board of education to establish a pilot project schools serving students in any grades 3-8. Provides that funds may be used to provide low-cost laptops and replacement hardware, provide teacher professional development and technical support on integrating laptops into the curriculum, supporting state board staff positions, and conducting an evaluation of the program's effectiveness. Provides a school may apply to establish a low-cost laptop pilot project grant for the entire school or for a particular grade or classroom(s). Requires the state board to select participants based on need, and to consider each school's population of free/reduced-lunch-eligible students, academic performance and access to educational technology resources. Requires the school board of each participating school to report annually to the state board on 7 indicators, including assessment results, attendance rates, teacher performance and retention, and student technology proficiency. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB0613lv.pdf Title: S.B. 613 Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Extends the technology immersion pilot project established by the state board of education for another 3 years. Extends the repeal of provisions concerning the technology immersion pilot project to August 31, 2010. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/SB/PDF/09500SB0746lv.pdf Title: S.B. 746 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Signed into law 08/2007 Postsec. Creates the Information Technology Access Act. Requires the department of human Services to convene an advisory working group to develop accessibility standards for electronic and information technology for state entities so that persons with disabilities may access the technology. Redefines state entity to remove other instrumentalities and specifically exclude units of local government, school districts, and community colleges (although public universities are included in definition of "state entity"). http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/SB/PDF/09500SB0511lv.pdf Title: S.B. 511 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet TX Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Postsec. Subject to available funds, the office shall establish a grant program under which the Office of Rural Community Affairs awards grants to public institutions of higher education, public high schools, and governmental entities located in a rural county for the development and operation of multi-institutional technology centers. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB02235F.pdf Title: H.B. 2235 Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us NY Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Section 7-a: Adds new section 753 to education code, on instructional computer hardware and technology equipment apportionment. Authorizes a district to be eligible for an apportionment for approved expenses for: (1) The purchase or lease of micro and/or mini computer equipment or terminals for instructional purposes (2) Technology equipment, including video, solar energy, robotic, satellite, laser and other such equipment as approved by the commissioner (3) The repair of such equipment, and training/staff development for instructional purposes. States such aid must be provided pursuant to a district-developed plan that demonstrates that the instructional computer hardware needs of students in the district have been adequately met, and that the district has provided for the loan of instructional computer hardware to students attending nonpublic schools. Provides formula to determine apportionment amount for which a district is eligible. Provides no district is required to purchase or otherwise acquire instructional computer hardware or technology equipment for which the cost exceeds the amount of state aid provided. Section 7-b: Adds new section 754 to education code, on loan of instructional computer hardware. Provides that school authorities have the power and duty to loan instructional computer hardware upon request, to all pupils legally attending nonpublic elementary or secondary schools located in the district. Provides such hardware is to be loaned free to such students, beginning with the 2007-2008 school year. Provides no district is required to loan instructional computer hardware in excess of the hardware acquired pursuant to section 753. Provides such hardware must be loaned on an equitable basis to children attending nonpublic schools in the district, provided that nothing shall be construed to require a district to loan instructional computer hardware. Directs school authorities to adopt regulations specifying the date by which requests for instructional computer hardware purchase/loan must be received by the district. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S02107&sh=t Title: S.B. 2107 - Part B, Section 7-a and 7-b Source: assembly.state.ny.us WV Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Establishes the 21st Century Tools for 21st Century Schools Technology Initiative to replace, enhance and fund current technology programs in schools; requires the development of a 21st Century Strategic Technology Learning Plan under the initiative and sets forth specific areas it should address; requires that the provision of technologies and services to students and teachers by schools be based on the goals of the 21st Century Strategic Technology Learning Plan; requires funds for the initiative/plan to be allocated equitably to county school systems following peer review of their technology plans that includes providing necessary technical assistance prior to submission and allowing for timely review and approval by the West Virginia Department of Education; outlines the use of technology and technology infrastructure under the initiative/plan. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2007_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/SB603%20SUB1%20enr.htm Title: S.B. 603 Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/ CA Vetoed 08/2006 P-12 Requires the State Department of Education to establish common data elements to determine the extent of educational technology access and instructional integration in public schools. Requires the department to consider and recommend appropriate methods to collect, analyze, and publish the extent of education technology access and instructional integration. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0801-0850/sb_812_bill_20060815_enrolled.pdf Title: S.B. 812 Source: California Legislature FL Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Relates to students, computers and internet access; creates a program to offer discounted computers and Internet access to public school students and students in home education programs in grades 5 through 12; requires DOE to negotiate terms with computer manufacturers, certain nonprofit corporations, and broadband Internet access providers; requires Digital Divide Council to implement pilot project to assist low-income students; provides for grants. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0765er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0765&Session=2006 Title: H.B. 765 Source: Florida Legislature CA Vetoed 09/2005 P-12 An act to add Section 33126.4 to the Education Code, relating to schools. - Schools: educational technology access and instructional integration. This bill would require the State Department of Education, on or before January 1, 2007, to establish common data elements to determine the extent of educational technology access and instructional integration in the public schools. The bill also would require the department to post the collected data on its Internet Web site. Title: S.B. 1006 Source: StateNet ME Issued 06/2005 P-12 Postsec. Community College Creates the PK-20 Telecommunications and Technology Infrastructure Board, the Broadband Access Infrastructure Board and the Telecommunciations Infrastructure Steering Committee. Defines purpose, objectives, duties and membership of each. Implementation costs are to be absorbed by the participating agencies, members serve without compensation. http://www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/news/executive-orders/E.O.%27s%20since%20E.R.%27s%20arrival/EO%2041%20FY%200405%20-%20Broadband.doc Title: Executive Order Source: http://www.maine.gov/governor/ CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Repeals the obsolete provisions that established the Commission on Technology in Learning law and specified its duties. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure school districts have access to technical assistance on the implementation of education technology. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to seek a federal waiver to allow eligibility for small and rural school districts to be based on income information used for free and reduced cost meals and not on federal census data and would delete the priorities in the award of grants. Requires the State Department of Education to provide priority scoring to small school districts in reviewing grant applications. Provides for grant funds allocations. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2701-2750/ab_2706_bill_20040825_enrolled.html Title: A.B. 2706 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Signed into law 10/2003 Postsec. Declares the Legislature intended to apply existing provisions requiring compliance with the accessibility requirements of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its implementing regulations for improving accessibility of persons with disabilities to electronic or information technology to the California State University. Requires the university to consider certain factors in developing or procuring such technology to include required access to handicapped persons. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0301-0350/sb_302_bill_20031011_chaptered.html Title: S.B. 302 Source: California Legislative Web site MD Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Defines "computer-based technology" as computer hardware or software used by teachers and students in the delivery of an instructional program. Requires state superintendent and secretary of business and economic development to ensure that specifications in all grants and procurement contracts for technology-based instructional products require equivalent access for students with disabilities, including blindness. Starting in FY05, state or local invitations for bids, RFPs, procurement contracts, grants, or modifications to these must give notice of the equivalent access requirement whenever funds are to develop or acquire technology-based instructional products. These equivalent access standards are also to be included in guidelines for design specifications for and selection of technology-based instructional products. The state or local district must select the available product that best meets the specifications and has the greatest functionality for equivalent access for students with disabilities, including blindness. http://mlis.state.md.us/2002rs/bills/sb/sb0226e.rtf Title: S.B. 226 Source: mlis.state.md.us AL Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Establishes the Digital Divide Coalition Study Committee. This committee will attempt to place more computers in Alabama classrooms. Title: H.J.R. 217 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Permits school divisions to donate obsolete hardware and software to be replaced pursuant to the technology replacement program to indigent public school students as provided in guidelines to be promulgated by the Board of Education; requires the guidelines to include criteria for determining student eligibility and need; a reporting system for the compilation of information concerning the characteristics of recipient students; and notification of parents. Title: H.B. 805 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet