HB 54: "An Act establishing the Alaska education technology program; and providing for an effective date."
00HOUSE BILL NO. 54 01 "An Act establishing the Alaska education technology program; and providing for 02 an effective date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) The legislature finds that 05 (1) 75 percent of the labor force in the state is unprepared to deal with rapidly 06 changing technology; 07 (2) the education system and publicly funded libraries can help in creating a 08 trained and productive labor force; 09 (3) education technology has the potential to improve the academic 10 performance of students, to prepare students for work in a technological society, and to assist 11 with education reform; 12 (4) schools and publicly funded libraries lack adequate hardware, software, and 13 training for students, patrons, and educators in education technology; 14 (5) in order to implement effective education technology programs, teacher
01 training and active participation is essential; 02 (6) there is a need for a central agency to coordinate education technology 03 efforts in the state and to increase awareness of sources of funds and equipment for 04 developing education technology. 05 (b) It is the purpose of this Act to establish the Alaska education technology program, 06 to provide teachers, library staff, and other instructional personnel with training in how to 07 apply education technology in meeting instructional objectives and to provide the necessary 08 equipment and materials to effectively utilize education technology within the adopted 09 curricula throughout the rural and urban schools and in publicly funded libraries of this state. 10 * Sec. 2. AS 14.30 is amended by adding new sections to read: 11 Article 12. Alaska Education Technology. 12 Sec. 14.30.800. Alaska education technology fund established. (a) The 13 Alaska education technology fund is established in the department. The purpose of the 14 fund is to (1) enhance the quality and equity of education at public elementary and 15 secondary schools by providing project or grant money needed to purchase, install, and 16 maintain education technology in classrooms; (2) provide training in the use of 17 education technology to help students and teachers achieve student performance 18 standards; (3) provide access to networks for public schools and publicly funded 19 libraries through the University of Alaska computer network, the Department of 20 Administration computer network, or other means consistent with the program 21 developed under AS 44.21.315(c); and (4) provide education technology, including 22 computer and resource sharing systems, to publicly funded libraries. The fund consists 23 of legislative appropriations to the fund and public or private donations made for the 24 purpose of the fund. 25 (b) A project or grant application shall be submitted on a form prescribed by 26 the department. A project or grant application may be submitted to the department by 27 a school district on behalf of a public school or by a publicly funded library. 28 (c) The department shall award and administer grants and contracts under this 29 section. 30 Sec. 14.30.810. Required duties of department. The department shall 31 (1) develop and promote the use of education technology to
01 (A) improve student learning capabilities; 02 (B) foster collaboration between elementary and secondary 03 schools as well as postsecondary institutions; and 04 (C) provide access to training and support resources for students 05 and staff; 06 (2) recommend outstanding education technology programs or products 07 for use by school districts in the state; 08 (3) develop plans to utilize distance learning technology and provide 09 leadership in implementing the use of distance learning technology; 10 (4) encourage parental involvement in the use and development of 11 education technology; 12 (5) make recommendations to the board on plans, policies, programs, 13 and activities relating to education technology; 14 (6) identify methods to reduce the costs to school districts of 15 implementing education technology, including the costs of access to national and 16 international computer services; and 17 (7) advise school districts on sources of gifts or grants of education 18 technology and application procedures for receiving the gifts or grants. 19 Sec. 14.30.820. Powers and duties of the commissioner of revenue. The 20 commissioner of revenue is the treasurer of the fund and has the duty to do all acts, 21 whether or not expressly authorized, that the commissioner of revenue considers 22 necessary or proper in administering the assets of the fund. 23 Sec. 14.30.850. Definitions. In AS 14.30.800 - 14.30.850, 24 (1) "district" has the meaning given in AS 14.17.250; 25 (2) "education technology" means instructional equipment and materials 26 that are used to enhance the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning, to 27 improve the development and training of teachers, and to enhance access to information 28 in libraries, including hardware, software, and telecommunications; 29 (3) "fund" means the Alaska education technology fund; 30 (4) "publicly funded library" means a library eligible for a grant under 31 AS 14.56.310.