Senate Bill 2002
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
By Senator Cowin
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to instructional technology;
3 amending s. 229.603, F.S.; providing
4 requirements for school technology plans;
5 requiring the Department of Education to
6 develop technology capability thresholds;
7 requiring the adoption of district technology
8 plans; revising requirements relating to the
9 distribution and use of technology funding;
10 eliminating provisions relating to technology
11 grants and grant administration; revising the
12 content of an annual report; creating s.
13 229.604, F.S., relating to access to technology
14 tools; requiring the Department of Education to
15 develop a plan to increase student access to
16 technology; amending s. 229.8041, F.S.;
17 revising Department of Education actions
18 regarding educational computing to include
19 conducting evaluations regarding the
20 achievement of technology thresholds; amending
21 s. 231.17, F.S.; revising minimum competencies
22 for teacher certification relating to
23 technology; providing an effective date.
24
25 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27 Section 1. Section 229.603, Florida Statutes, is
28 amended to read:
29 229.603 Instructional Technology Grant Program.--There
30 is created the Instructional Technology Grant Program.
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 (1) SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY PLANS.--Each school must address
2 proposals for implementing instructional technology in either
3 the school improvement plan or a school technology plan which
4 has been approved by the district school board. The school
5 plan shall be submitted to the district school board by May 1,
6 2000. By May 1 each year thereafter an update of the plan or a
7 new plan must be submitted. The school improvement plan or the
8 technology plan must:
9 (a) Address the achievement of technology capability
10 thresholds established by the Department of Education
11 according to this section; and
12 (b) Address safe access to the school media center
13 outside of the regular school day.
14 (2) DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY PLANS.--Each district must
15 submit a district technology plan to the Department of
16 Education that is a strategic, long-range plan that has been
17 developed using information from the technology plans of
18 schools in the district and the technology capability
19 thresholds established by the Department of Education. The
20 plan shall be for a period of at least 3 years but no more
21 than 5 years and the initial district plan shall be submitted
22 to the department by November 1, 2000. A new plan shall be
23 submitted by November 1 in the final year of the prior plan
24 and an update must be submitted by November 1 of each of the
25 interim years for the duration of the plan. The plan shall
26 include the following essential elements:
27 (a) A mission statement including, but not limited to,
28 how the district will incorporate technology into the
29 educational program to promote the effective use of technology
30 to implement the state academic standards to improve the
31 performance of all students.
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 (b) A background component that includes, but is not
2 limited to:
3 1. Relevant district, economic, geographic, and
4 demographic factors effecting the implementation of
5 technology.
6 2. The planning process used to develop the plan,
7 which must include input from community, business, and
8 industry.
9 (c) A needs assessment including, but not limited to,
10 the following goals:
11 1. Identification of technology infrastructure,
12 equipment, assistive technology, programming (educational
13 materials, software, and media), replacement, training, and
14 support needs.
15 2. Short-term goals to be achieved within 1 year and
16 long-term goals to be achieved within 3 to 5 years. Both
17 short-term and long-term goals shall be listed in a ranked
18 priority order and shall be established considering the
19 individual school technology plans and the technology
20 capability thresholds established by the department.
21 (d) A funding plan linked to the technology capability
22 thresholds.
23 (e) A technology acquisition plan that addresses:
24 1. Program development.
25 2. Procurement.
26 3. Achievement of the technology capability
27 thresholds.
28 (f) An access plan that addresses:
29 1. Shared use.
30 2. Equitable access, including appropriate access to
31 external instructional services and programming providers such
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 as public libraries, charter schools, remote teaching sites,
2 home school connections, and online products and services.
3 3. Security.
4 (g) A user support plan.
5 (h) A staff training plan which includes, but is not
6 limited to, provisions for increasing use of technology in the
7 classroom and media center according to the technology
8 capability thresholds.
9 (i) A program evaluation which includes, but is not
10 limited to, a description of how the technology acquired is
11 being integrated into the school curriculum and affecting
12 student achievement and progress toward meeting the
13 educational goals of the state academic standards.
14 (3) TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITY THRESHOLDS.--The Department
15 of Education shall, in consultation with high technology
16 business and industry partners, develop technology capability
17 thresholds that describe levels of reasonable standards of
18 technological capability to be consecutively achieved in a
19 school for the school to effectively utilize instructional
20 technology. The technology capability thresholds shall be
21 designed to ensure that Florida's students have skills that
22 meet the needs of Florida businesses and industry and shall be
23 updated annually. The department shall develop the technology
24 capability thresholds by January 1, 2000. By January 1 each
25 year thereafter, the thresholds must be updated.
26 (4)(1) GRANT FUNDING.--
27 (a) Ninety-four Eighty percent of the funds
28 appropriated for public school technology this program shall
29 be prorated and distributed by the Commissioner of Education
30 to the state's school districts according to each district's
31 percentage of the statewide total K-12 full-time equivalent
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 membership on the basis of proposals submitted for
2 implementing instructional technology. These funds may be
3 used to replicate existing instructional technology programs.
4 At least 10 percent of these funds shall be used for teacher
5 and other related training.
6 (b) Six percent of the funds appropriated for this
7 program may be used by the commissioner to:
8 1. Administer the program.
9 2. Fund development and codevelopment activities.
10 3. Establish a clearinghouse to identify, evaluate,
11 and disseminate information regarding developments in the
12 private and public sectors of instructional technology,
13 including both software and hardware.
14 4. Disseminate information regarding successful
15 state-of-the-art systems, including an annual catalog of
16 exemplary projects and products.
17 5. Provide technical assistance to districts and
18 schools in developing and implementing their technology plans
19 and in using state central-purchasing resources to maximize
20 cost advantages and, where necessary, provide districts with
21 technical assistance for needs assessment and grant
22 preparation. At least 10 percent of the funds appropriated for
23 this program shall be used to fund research and development
24 and codevelopment of new instructional technologies and their
25 implementation in the classroom.
26 (c) Beginning with the 2000-2001 school year,
27 districts shall distribute to schools the the funds received
28 for public school technology on the basis of technology issues
29 addressed by the school in the school improvement plan
30 pursuant to s. 230.23(16) or in a school plan for implementing
31 instructional technology submitted to and approved by the
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 district school board. To receive funding, a proposed project
2 must be in a school that has achieved the appropriate
3 technology capability threshold for the proposed project and
4 the proposed project must be consistent with the district's
5 technology plan. Preference for funding shall be given to
6 schools which meet one or more of the following criteria:
7 1. The school has matched the request with other funds
8 and private sector contributions to the maximum extent
9 possible, as determined by the school board.
10 2. The project is to be implemented in a critically
11 low-performing school in order for that school to achieve the
12 appropriate technology capability threshold. Up to 10 percent
13 of the funds appropriated for this program shall be used to
14 fund new or innovative use of instructional technology or use
15 of new instructional technology.
16 (2) GRANT ADMINISTRATION.--
17 (a) Project proposals must include the following:
18 1. An outline of the proposed project activities and
19 project budget.
20 2. A description of how the proposed project will
21 integrate instructional technology with regular classroom
22 teaching.
23 3. A description of how the project incorporates
24 state-of-the-art instructional technology which utilizes
25 advanced integrated learning systems technology and other
26 newly developed systems geared to hands-on learning and to
27 developing higher order thinking skills, including
28 problem-solving skills, understanding of abstract concepts,
29 and high-level critical thinking and applied learning skills.
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 4. A description of how the project will affect and be
2 incorporated into the overall implementation of instructional
3 technology in the school district over the next 5 years.
4 5. A description of the anticipated project results
5 and procedures for assessing the success of the project.
6 (b) During fiscal year 1990-1991, preference for grant
7 approval shall be given to projects which are dedicated to
8 elementary school implementation and which utilize advanced
9 technology to incorporate self-paced learning.
10 (c) Preference for grant approval shall be given to
11 districts which maximize their match of the grant request with
12 district funds and private sector contributions.
13 (d) The Department of Education shall adopt forms for
14 proposal applications.
15 (e) Proposals shall be recommended to the commissioner
16 by a nine-member grant review panel appointed by the
17 commissioner. The panel shall consist of two teachers, two
18 district administrators, two business people, a school
19 administrator, and two additional members selected at the
20 commissioner's discretion.
21 (f) A portion of the grant funds utilized by the
22 commissioner under paragraph (1)(c) may be utilized to:
23 1. Administer the program.
24 2. Fund development and codevelopment activities.
25 3. Establish a clearinghouse to identify, evaluate,
26 and disseminate information regarding developments in the
27 private and public sectors of instructional technology,
28 including both software and hardware.
29 4. Disseminate information regarding successful
30 state-of-the-art systems, including an annual catalog of
31 exemplary projects and products.
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 (g) The department shall assist grant recipients in
2 using state central-purchasing resources to maximize cost
3 advantages and shall, where necessary, provide districts with
4 technical assistance for needs assessment and grant
5 preparation.
6 (5)(3) REPORTS.--Beginning January 1, 2000 1991, the
7 commissioner shall make an annual report to the Legislature
8 within 60 days prior to the beginning of the regular
9 legislative session. The report shall include:
10 (a) A summary of the status of the Instructional
11 Technology Grant Program, including a description of the
12 technology capability thresholds developed by the department
13 according to this section, and the status of school
14 achievement of the thresholds.
15 (b) Recommendations to improve the efficiency and
16 promote the utilization of instructional technology.
17 Section 2. Section 229.604, Florida Statutes, is
18 created to read:
19 229.604 Access to technology tools.--The Department of
20 Education shall develop a plan to provide access for students
21 to technology to support students' educational progress in the
22 community, at work, at school, and at home. The plan shall
23 encourage districts and schools to furnish safe access to
24 school media centers outside of the regular school day, and to
25 consider the construction of entrances which may be accessed
26 from the outer perimeter of the school campus when planning
27 for new construction or remodeling projects.
28 Section 3. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (2) of
29 section 229.8041, Florida Statutes, to read:
30 229.8041 Educational computing.--
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 (2) IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY.--The department is
2 authorized and encouraged to assist school districts,
3 community colleges, and state universities to make appropriate
4 use of computing. Department actions for this purpose may
5 include, but need not be limited to:
6 (e) Conducting evaluations of the status of school and
7 district use of technology to determine if they meet
8 appropriate technology capability thresholds.
9 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
10 231.17, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:
11 231.17 Official statements of eligibility and
12 certificates granted on application to those meeting
13 prescribed requirements.--
14 (5) MINIMUM COMPETENCIES FOR PROFESSIONAL
15 CERTIFICATE.--
16 (a) The state board must specify, by rule, the minimum
17 essential competencies that educators must possess and
18 demonstrate in order to qualify to teach students the
19 standards of student performance adopted by the state board.
20 The minimum competencies must include but are not limited to
21 the ability to:
22 1. Write in a logical and understandable style with
23 appropriate grammar and sentence structure.
24 2. Read, comprehend, and interpret professional and
25 other written material.
26 3. Comprehend and work with fundamental mathematical
27 concepts.
28 4. Recognize signs of severe emotional distress in
29 students and apply techniques of crisis intervention with an
30 emphasis on suicide prevention and positive emotional
31 development.
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 5. Recognize signs of alcohol and drug abuse in
2 students and apply counseling techniques with emphasis on
3 intervention and prevention of future abuse.
4 6. Recognize the physical and behavioral indicators of
5 child abuse and neglect, know rights and responsibilities
6 regarding reporting, know how to care for a child's needs
7 after a report is made, and know recognition, intervention,
8 and prevention strategies pertaining to child abuse and
9 neglect which can be related to children in a classroom
10 setting in a nonthreatening, positive manner.
11 7. Comprehend patterns of physical, social, and
12 academic development in students, including exceptional
13 students in the regular classroom, and counsel these students
14 concerning their needs in these areas.
15 8. Recognize and be aware of the instructional needs
16 of exceptional students.
17 9. Comprehend patterns of normal development in
18 students and employ appropriate intervention strategies for
19 disorders of development.
20 10. Identify and comprehend the codes and standards of
21 professional ethics, performance, and practices adopted
22 pursuant to s. 231.546(2)(b), the grounds for disciplinary
23 action provided by s. 231.28, and the procedures for resolving
24 complaints filed pursuant to this chapter, including appeal
25 processes.
26 11. Recognize and demonstrate awareness of the
27 educational needs of students who have limited proficiency in
28 English and employ appropriate teaching strategies.
29 12. Use appropriate technology in teaching and
30 learning processes and in managing, evaluating, and improving
31 instruction.
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2002
11-1362-99 See HB 477
1 13. Use assessment strategies to assist the continuous
2 development of the learner.
3 14. Use teaching and learning strategies that include
4 considering each student's culture, learning styles, special
5 needs, and socioeconomic background.
6 15. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the
7 subject matter that is aligned with the subject knowledge and
8 skills specified in the student performance standards approved
9 by the state board.
10 Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
11 law.
12
13 *****************************************
14 HOUSE SUMMARY
15
Provides requirements for school technology plans.
16 Requires the Department of Education to develop
technology capability thresholds. Requires the adoption
17 of district technology plans. Revises requirements
relating to the distribution and use of technology
18 funding. Eliminates provisions relating to technology
grants and grant administration. Revises the content of
19 the annual report to the Legislature regarding
instructional technology. Creates a section of law
20 relating to access to technology tools. Requires the
Department of Education to develop a plan to increase
21 student access to technology. Revises Department of
Education actions regarding educational computing to
22 include conducting evaluations regarding the achievement
of technology thresholds. Revises minimum competencies
23 for teacher certification relating to technology.
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