House File 409 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY BOAL Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to education technology, including the creation 2 of an Iowa learning technology commission and pilot program, 3 establishment of a research triangle and clearinghouse, and 4 allowing for the use of physical plant and equipment levy 5 revenues for education technology. 6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 7 TLSB 1874HH 81 8 kh/pj/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 262.9, Code 2005, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 31. Establish a research triangle, 1 4 defined by the three institutions of higher learning under the 1 5 board's control, and clearinghouse for purposes of sharing the 1 6 projects and results of kindergarten through grade twelve 1 7 education technology initiatives occurring in Iowa's school 1 8 districts, area education agencies, community colleges, and 1 9 other higher education institutions, with the education 1 10 community within and outside of the state. Dissemination of 1 11 and access to information regarding planning, financing, 1 12 curriculum, professional development, preservice training, 1 13 project implementation strategies, and results shall be 1 14 centralized to allow school districts from across the state to 1 15 gain ideas from each other regarding the integration of 1 16 technology in the classroom. 1 17 Sec. 2. Section 280A.1, Code 2005, is amended by adding 1 18 the following new unnumbered paragraph: 1 19 NEW UNNUMBERED PARAGRAPH. Public and private partners 1 20 shall participate in the development of the planning, 1 21 implementation, and outcomes for the initiative. 1 22 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 280A.2 IOWA LEARNING TECHNOLOGY 1 23 COMMISSION == MEMBERS. 1 24 1. COMMISSION CREATED. An Iowa learning technology 1 25 commission is created to administer the Iowa learning 1 26 technology initiative, including creation of a pilot program 1 27 pursuant to section 280A.4, to be implemented through local 1 28 and public=private partnerships, that shall include but shall 1 29 not be limited to, use of one=to=one student learning 1 30 technology. 1 31 2. MEMBERS. The commission shall initially be appointed 1 32 no later than July 1, 2005, and shall consist of eighteen 1 33 members appointed as follows: 1 34 a. Nine voting members who shall be members of the general 1 35 public and shall be appointed as follows: 2 1 (1) Two members shall be appointed by the governor. 2 2 (2) Two members shall be appointed by the president of the 2 3 senate. 2 4 (3) One member shall be appointed by the minority leader 2 5 of the senate. 2 6 (4) Two members shall be appointed by the speaker of the 2 7 house of representatives. 2 8 (5) One member shall be appointed by the minority leader 2 9 of the house of representatives. 2 10 (6) One member who is a member of the state board of 2 11 education shall be appointed by the chairperson of the state 2 12 board. 2 13 b. Nine ex officio, nonvoting members who shall be 2 14 appointed as follows: 2 15 (1) One member representing public postsecondary education 2 16 institutions who is employed by a public postsecondary 2 17 education institution shall be appointed by the governor. 2 18 (2) Three members representing three different school 2 19 districts shall be appointed by the governor as follows: 2 20 (a) One member shall be a teacher employed by a school 2 21 district or area education agency who is appointed from a list 2 22 of three names submitted by a certified employee organization 2 23 representing teachers licensed under chapter 272. 2 24 (b) One member shall be an administrator employed by a 2 25 school district who is appointed from a list of three names 2 26 submitted by a statewide organization representing 2 27 administrators licensed under chapter 272. 2 28 (c) One member shall be a member of a board of directors 2 29 of a school district who is appointed by a statewide 2 30 organization representing school boards. 2 31 (3) One member representing area education agencies shall 2 32 be appointed by the governor from a list of three names 2 33 submitted by area education agency administrators. 2 34 (4) One member who is a member of the senate shall be 2 35 appointed by the president of the senate. 3 1 (5) One member who is a member of the senate shall be 3 2 appointed by the minority leader of the senate. 3 3 (6) One member who is a member of the house of 3 4 representatives shall be appointed by the speaker of the house 3 5 of representatives. 3 6 (7) One member who is a member of the house of 3 7 representatives shall be appointed by the minority leader of 3 8 the house of representatives. 3 9 3. EXPERIENCE AND SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE. In appointing 3 10 members to the commission, proper consideration shall be given 3 11 to persons with experience or special knowledge in one or more 3 12 of the following areas: education, including curriculum and 3 13 content; business; economic development; technology; and 3 14 finance. 3 15 4. BALANCE. Commission members shall be appointed in 3 16 compliance with sections 69.16 and 69.16A. Appointments of 3 17 public members shall be made to provide broad representation 3 18 of the various geographical areas of the state insofar as 3 19 possible. 3 20 5. CHAIRPERSONS. The commission shall elect a chairperson 3 21 and a vice chairperson annually from among the voting members 3 22 of the commission. A member shall not serve as a chairperson 3 23 or vice chairperson for more than three consecutive years. 3 24 6. MEETINGS. The commission shall meet at least three 3 25 times each year. 3 26 7. QUORUM. A majority of the voting members constitutes a 3 27 quorum for the transaction of any official business. 3 28 8. TERMS OF MEMBERS. The members shall be appointed to 3 29 three=year staggered terms and the terms shall commence and 3 30 end as provided by section 69.19. If a vacancy occurs, a 3 31 successor shall be appointed to serve the unexpired term. A 3 32 successor shall be appointed in the same manner and subject to 3 33 the same qualifications as the original appointment to serve 3 34 the unexpired term. 3 35 9. EXPENSES. Members of the commission are entitled to 4 1 receive reimbursement for actual expenses incurred while 4 2 engaged in the performance of official duties from funds 4 3 appropriated to the department of education for that purpose, 4 4 except that legislators' expenses shall be paid from funds 4 5 appropriated by section 2.12. 4 6 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 280A.3 COMMISSION DUTIES. 4 7 The commission shall: 4 8 1. Develop and administer the Iowa learning technology 4 9 pilot program in accordance with section 280A.4. The 4 10 commission shall determine application and selection 4 11 processes, and the minimum requirements for selection of pilot 4 12 program participants. 4 13 2. Develop an accurate assessment, prior to implementing 4 14 the pilot program as provided in section 280A.4 and with the 4 15 collaboration of the department of education, of the current 4 16 status of technology in Iowa's public school classrooms 4 17 supported by reliable data. Data collected and assessed shall 4 18 include the number of computers and their appropriate 4 19 corresponding use; the costs for hardware, software, staff 4 20 development, instructional staff, and technology support 4 21 staff; sources of funds used for school district technology 4 22 budgets; and an inventory of technology=based kindergarten 4 23 through grade twelve curricula. 4 24 3. Identify and coordinate, in collaboration with the 4 25 department of education, current public, private, federal, 4 26 state, community college, and local revenue sources used for 4 27 kindergarten through grade twelve educational technology at 4 28 the school district, area education agency, and state levels. 4 29 The commission shall utilize the information to determine a 4 30 budget with recommended appropriations for statewide 4 31 kindergarten through grade twelve education technology. 4 32 4. Submit the data assessed and the budget determined 4 33 pursuant to subsections 2 and 3 in a report to the house and 4 34 senate standing education committees and the joint 4 35 subcommittee on education appropriations of the general 5 1 assembly by January 15, 2006. 5 2 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 280A.4 PILOT PROGRAM. 5 3 1. The Iowa learning technology commission created in 5 4 section 280A.2 shall develop and administer the Iowa learning 5 5 technology pilot program to encourage innovation, increase 5 6 student achievement, and ensure that technology is used on the 5 7 basis of best practices. The pilot program should be designed 5 8 to obtain valid and reliable evidence of the impact on student 5 9 engagement and achievement from the use of technology, which 5 10 shall include but not be limited to a "one=to=one" initiative; 5 11 further demonstrate successful district=to=vendor 5 12 relationships and possibilities; identify local district 5 13 educational and fiscal planning and implementation strategies; 5 14 and gain a better understanding of the current status of 5 15 technology in Iowa schools. The goal of the pilot program is 5 16 to provide results and additional information necessary for 5 17 the general assembly to commit state funds toward 5 18 implementation of a statewide technology initiative. The 5 19 commission shall make the final determination regarding pilot 5 20 program grant awards, and shall notify the department of 5 21 education of the amount of the grant amount to be awarded to a 5 22 school district. From moneys appropriated to the department 5 23 of education for purposes of the pilot program, the pilot 5 24 program shall consist of state=funded competitive grants to 5 25 Iowa school districts that are matched locally with public or 5 26 private, federal, state, or local financing as determined by 5 27 the applicant school district. Administrative support and 5 28 staffing shall be provided by the department of education. 5 29 2. The pilot program shall be consistent with the 5 30 following guiding principles: 5 31 a. FOCUS ON INCREASING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES 5 32 THROUGH QUALITY TEACHING AND LEARNING. The focus on student 5 33 achievement should include identification, for purposes of the 5 34 pilot program as well as for statewide implementation, of the 5 35 age and developmentally appropriate use of educational 6 1 technology that will engage the learner and result in improved 6 2 student achievement opportunities. 6 3 b. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Quality, ongoing 6 4 professional development shall be provided, including best 6 5 practices in the effective use of technology in the classroom. 6 6 c. CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT. Students' technology skills 6 7 shall be integrated into the curriculum and assessed through 6 8 the demonstration of learning within content areas. 6 9 d. EQUITABLE ACCESS. Grant awards under the pilot program 6 10 shall be distributed to school districts that meet the 6 11 selection requirements established by the commission in a 6 12 manner that ensures that students throughout the state have 6 13 equitable access to education opportunities offered via the 6 14 use of technology and telecommunications. 6 15 e. EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PLANNING. Due consideration 6 16 shall be given to future sustainability of learning technology 6 17 resources by adapting to future educational needs and 6 18 technology changes and by avoiding obsolescence of learning 6 19 technology resources. 6 20 f. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Grant moneys should be 6 21 distributed in such a manner as to foster economic development 6 22 across all regions of the state and to prepare students for an 6 23 economy that embraces technology and innovation. 6 24 g. ACCOUNTABILITY. The pilot program shall include 6 25 methods of measuring progress in the areas of increased 6 26 student engagement; decreased disciplinary problems; increased 6 27 use of computers for writing, analysis, and research; movement 6 28 toward student=centered classrooms; increased parental 6 29 involvement; and increased standardized test scores. 6 30 Sec. 6. Section 298.3, Code 2005, is amended by adding the 6 31 following new subsection: 6 32 NEW SUBSECTION. 13. The purchase, notwithstanding the 6 33 limitation provided in subsection 3, of computer hardware, 6 34 servers, and preloaded software. 6 35 EXPLANATION 7 1 This bill establishes an Iowa learning technology 7 2 commission to administer the Iowa learning technology 7 3 initiative, to be implemented through local and public= 7 4 private partnerships, develop and administer an Iowa learning 7 5 technology pilot program, collect and assess data relating to 7 6 the current status of technology in Iowa's public school 7 7 classrooms, and identify and coordinate current revenue 7 8 sources used for K=12 educational technology; requires the 7 9 state board of regents to establish a research triangle 7 10 composed of the three regents universities and clearinghouse 7 11 for purposes of sharing K=12 education technology initiatives; 7 12 and expands the purposes for which physical plant and 7 13 equipment levies may be used to include computer hardware, 7 14 servers, and preloaded software. 7 15 The initiative administered by the commission may include, 7 16 but is not limited to, establishment of a leadership group, 7 17 use of one=to=one student learning technology and the creation 7 18 of an Iowa learning technology pilot program to encourage 7 19 innovation, increase student achievement, ensure that 7 20 technology is used on the basis of best practices, further 7 21 demonstrate successful district=to=vendor relationships and 7 22 possibilities, and identify local district educational and 7 23 fiscal planning and implementation strategies. The pilot 7 24 program is to be designed to obtain valid and reliable 7 25 evidence of the impact on student achievement from the use of 7 26 technology. The goal of the pilot program is to provide 7 27 results and additional information necessary for the general 7 28 assembly to commit state funds toward implementation of a 7 29 statewide technology initiative. The bill lists the key 7 30 components of the pilot program. 7 31 From moneys appropriated to the department of education for 7 32 purposes of the pilot program, state=funded competitive grants 7 33 are to be made by the commission to Iowa school districts that 7 34 match the state funds locally with public or private, federal, 7 35 other state, or local financing as determined by the applicant 8 1 school district. 8 2 The commission is directed to use the information it 8 3 collects regarding current revenue sources to determine a 8 4 budget with recommended appropriations for statewide 8 5 kindergarten through grade 12 education technology. The data 8 6 and the budget and appropriations recommendations must be 8 7 submitted in a report to the house and senate standing 8 8 education committees and the joint subcommittee on education 8 9 appropriations of the general assembly by January 15, 2006. 8 10 The commission consists of nine voting members who are 8 11 members of the general public and nine ex officio, nonvoting 8 12 members who are education professionals or education 8 13 stakeholders. 8 14 The research triangle and clearinghouse to be established 8 15 by the state board of regents is directed to share the 8 16 projects and results of K=12 education technology initiatives 8 17 occurring in Iowa's school districts, area education agencies, 8 18 community colleges, and other higher education institutions, 8 19 with the education community within and outside of the state. 8 20 LSB 1874HH 81 8 21 kh:nh/pj/5.1