House Bill 0477

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                 HB 477

        By the Committee on Education Innovation and
    Representatives Melvin, Patterson, Alexander, Bush, Bullard,
    Gottlieb and Cantens




  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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.

30

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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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