Senate Bill sb0116c1

    Florida Senate - 2004                            CS for SB 116

    By the Committee on Education; and Senator Clary





    304-1640-04

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to education technology;

  3         creating the Florida Teaching and Learning

  4         Technology Initiative; providing for

  5         implementation by the Department of Education;

  6         providing for the appointment of a technology

  7         evaluation committee; providing for membership

  8         and duties of such committee; providing for the

  9         administration of grants to school districts;

10         providing for the appointment of an independent

11         contractor to evaluate the Florida Teaching and

12         Learning Technology Initiative; requiring a

13         report to the Governor and Legislature;

14         providing an effective date.

15  

16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

17  

18         Section 1.  (1)  FLORIDA TEACHING AND LEARNING

19  TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE.--The Florida Teaching and Learning

20  Technology Initiative is created within the Department of

21  Education. The purpose of the Florida Teaching and Learning

22  Technology Initiative is to enhance public education through

23  the use of technology in the classroom, including portable,

24  wireless technology products fully configured for digital

25  media; to motivate and assist students to achieve at high

26  levels with the recognition that students have different

27  learning styles; to prepare students for the 21st century

28  workforce; and to increase parental involvement in student

29  academic achievement.

30         (2)  ADMINISTRATION.--The Office of Educational

31  Technology within the Department of Education shall be

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    Florida Senate - 2004                            CS for SB 116
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 1  responsible for administering the Florida Teaching and

 2  Learning Technology Initiative. In connection with this

 3  administrative responsibility, the Office of Educational

 4  Technology shall undertake the following actions, without

 5  limitation:

 6         (a)  Develop a public-private partnership between the

 7  Department of Education and a vendor of education technology

 8  products in order to offer to school districts, as needed, a

 9  learning solutions technology package that may include,

10  without limitation, hardware, software, digital content,

11  professional development, services, and support.

12         (b)  Subject to appropriation, provide grants to school

13  districts in connection with the Florida Teaching and Learning

14  Technology Initiative.

15         (c)  Provide for the evaluation of the efficacy of

16  program activities connected to the Florida Teaching and

17  Learning Technology Initiative.

18         (d)  Consider the recommendations of the technology

19  evaluation committee established pursuant to this section.

20         (3)  TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION COMMITTEE.--No later than

21  August 16, 2004, the Commissioner of Education shall appoint

22  seven members of a technology evaluation committee to review

23  partnership proposals from vendors in connection with the

24  Florida Teaching and Learning Technology Initiative.

25         (a)  The technology evaluation committee shall include:

26         1.  A representative from the Florida Association of

27  School Administrators;

28         2.  The chair of the Florida Task Force for Providing

29  Laptops Universally for Students;

30  

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2004                            CS for SB 116
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 1         3.  A representative from an urban local chamber of

 2  commerce recommended by the Board of Governors of the Florida

 3  Chamber of Commerce;

 4         4.  A representative from a suburban local economic

 5  development council recommended by the Florida Economic

 6  Development Council, Inc.;

 7         5.  A teacher from a local school district;

 8         6.  A representative from the Florida Council of

 9  Instructional Technology Leaders; and

10         7.  The Executive Director of the Florida Learning

11  Alliance.

12  

13  Each member may appoint a designee to serve on his or her

14  behalf.  However, any designee must be in a position that

15  reports directly to the member.

16         (b)  All appointments shall be for a 12-month term.

17  All vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the original

18  appointment for only the time remaining in the unexpired term.

19  Any member of the committee may be removed by the Commissioner

20  of Education for cause. The committee shall meet monthly as

21  needed or upon the call of the chair, who shall be selected by

22  a majority vote of the members. All meetings of the committee

23  shall be open to the public. All records of committee motions

24  and votes shall be made available by the Office of Educational

25  Technology for public inspection and duplication.

26         (c)  Members of the committee are entitled to

27  reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as provided in

28  section 112.061, Florida Statutes. Members who are state

29  officers or employees may be reimbursed for such expenses by

30  their respective agencies.

31  

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 1         (d)  The committee shall review all bids or proposals

 2  received from potential vendors pursuant to subsection (4) and

 3  shall make a recommendation for selection of a vendor to the

 4  Office of Educational Technology after a thorough review of

 5  all information submitted by each potential vendor, but no

 6  later than November 15, 2004.

 7         (e)  In appointing members of the committee, proper

 8  consideration shall be given to persons with experience or

 9  special knowledge in one or more of the following

10  areas:  education, business, economic development, or

11  technology.

12         (4)  EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS.--No later than August 16,

13  2004, the Department of Education shall issue an invitation to

14  bid or a request for proposals in accordance with section

15  287.057, Florida Statutes, to identify the vendor that will

16  partner with the Department of Education pursuant to the

17  Florida Teaching and Learning Technology Initiative. All bids

18  or proposals received shall be submitted to the technology

19  evaluation committee for review.

20         (a)  The criteria for evaluation of vendors who submit

21  bids or proposals pursuant to this section shall be

22  established by the Office of Educational Technology, but shall

23  include, without limitation:

24         1.  Experience in the development and successful

25  implementation of large-scale, school-based wireless

26  technology projects.

27         2.  Demonstrated ability to deliver a learning

28  technology package for elementary and secondary school

29  students and teachers, including, without limitation, laptop

30  computers, devices using wireless or mobile technology,

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2004                            CS for SB 116
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 1  software, digital content, network services, maintenance, and

 2  professional development.

 3         3.  Experience in developing results-based education

 4  solutions to increase student achievement and advance

 5  professional development for teachers.

 6         4.  Ability to coordinate, use, and expand existing

 7  technology infrastructures and professional development

 8  delivery systems within school districts and regions.

 9         5.  Ability to provide a wireless or mobile technology

10  device with digital media capability that is capable of

11  connecting to a wireless network and accessing schools'

12  preexisting local networks and the Internet, both wirelessly

13  from within the school and through remote connections from

14  outside the school.

15         6.  Willingness to provide a program manager that will

16  serve as the primary contact person or entity for the

17  Department of Education and school districts in connection

18  with the Florida Teaching and Learning Technology Initiative.

19         (b)  The bid or proposal best meeting all evaluation

20  criteria shall be selected by the Office of Educational

21  Technology after consideration of the recommendation of the

22  technology evaluation committee and after consultation with

23  the Florida State Technology Office. The bid or proposal

24  recommended by the technology evaluation committee and chosen

25  by the Office of Educational Technology shall demonstrate

26  efficiency and use economies of scale, shall be operable with

27  existing technologies, and shall be consistent with the

28  state's economic development and education policies.

29         (5)  GRANTS.--Subject to appropriation of funds by the

30  Legislature, the Office of Educational Technology shall

31  administer grants to school districts under this section,

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 1  which shall be used initially for the provision by the state

 2  partner of wireless or mobile technology devices with digital

 3  media capability, related technology, and related services to

 4  students at grade levels 3, 6, 9, or 10 and their teachers,

 5  with expansion to other grades over the course of the grant

 6  term. If funds are appropriated for the grants established by

 7  this section, the Department of Education shall publicize the

 8  availability of the grants to all school districts as soon as

 9  practicable after such appropriation is made. Each grant shall

10  be for a 3-year term, subject to yearly appropriation of funds

11  by the Legislature. Grants to school districts made pursuant

12  to this section shall be made on a competitive basis and shall

13  be no more than ten in number.  No more than three grants may

14  be allocated to large school districts, no more than four

15  grants may be allocated to medium school districts, and no

16  more than three grants may be allocated to small school

17  districts. In the absence of a sufficient number of grant

18  applications for this allocation by school district size,

19  remaining grants shall be awarded at the discretion of the

20  Department of Education. The Department of Education shall

21  establish criteria for determining what characteristics

22  categorize school districts as small, medium, or large for

23  purposes of this section.

24         (a)  The Office of Educational Technology shall

25  establish criteria for evaluating grant proposals submitted by

26  school districts pursuant to this section, which criteria

27  shall include, without limitation:

28         1.  The school district's plan for improving learning

29  through the use of wireless technology.

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    Florida Senate - 2004                            CS for SB 116
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 1         2.  The school district's ability to provide highly

 2  qualified teachers, as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act

 3  of 2001, for implementing the programs supported by the grant.

 4         3.  The school district's plan to share information and

 5  findings related to the grant activities with other school

 6  districts.

 7         (b)  A school district that receives a grant under this

 8  section shall provide a 25-percent match from public or

 9  private resources, in either cash or equivalent-value

10  services, to cover required training programs and professional

11  development for teachers in implementing the programs

12  supported by the grant.

13         (c)  A school district may elect to purchase or lease

14  wireless laptop technology and related services from a vendor

15  other than the state partner selected pursuant to subsection

16  (4) at 75 percent of the grant amount if the school district's

17  chosen vendor meets the eligibility criteria for such vendors

18  set forth in subsection (4).

19         (6)  INDEPENDENT PROGRAM EVALUATION.--No later than

20  September 30, 2004, the Office of Educational Technology shall

21  issue a second invitation to bid or request for proposals in

22  accordance with section 287.057, Florida Statutes, for an

23  independent contractor to evaluate the Florida Teaching and

24  Learning Technology Initiative.

25         (a)  The criteria used by the independent contractor to

26  evaluate the Florida Teaching and Learning Technology

27  Initiative must include, but need not be limited to:

28         1.  Improvement in student academic achievement in

29  reading and language arts, science, and mathematics

30  attributable to the initiative programs.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2004                            CS for SB 116
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 1         2.  Improvement in student engagement, as determined by

 2  retention rates, dropout rates, detentions, and suspensions,

 3  which is attributable to the initiative programs.

 4         3.  Improvement in parental involvement and

 5  communication which is attributable to the initiative

 6  programs.

 7         4.  The economic impact of the initiative on

 8  communities around the state.

 9         5.  Improvement in the development of students' 21st

10  century learning skills, such as critical thinking, problem

11  solving, and teamwork, which is attributable to the initiative

12  programs.

13         6.  Satisfaction of the school districts and the Office

14  of Educational Technology with the service and support of the

15  state partner.

16         (b)  An annual report by the independent evaluator

17  shall be submitted to the Governor, the President of the

18  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by

19  August 31 of each program year beginning in 2005 and ending in

20  2007.

21         (7)  IMPLEMENTATION.--This section shall be implemented

22  only to the extent specifically funded and authorized by law.

23         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

24  law.

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    Florida Senate - 2004                            CS for SB 116
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 1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 2                         Senate Bill 116

 3                                 

 4  Removes all provisions related to the Harnessing the Power of
    Education Technology Advisory Council.
 5  
    Creates the Florida Teaching and Learning Technology
 6  Initiative in the Florida Department of Education.

 7  Requires the Department of Education to issue an invitation to
    bid or request for proposals from vendors to provide
 8  technology to school districts as the state's partner under
    the Florida Teaching and Learning Technology Initiative.
 9  
    Establishes a 7-member technology evaluation committee to
10  review bids or proposals and recommend a vendor to the Office
    of Educational Technology within the Department of Education.
11  
    Requires the Office of Educational Technology to provide ten
12  3-year grants to school districts for the purchase of
    technology and services from the vendor.
13  
    Requires the Office of Educational Technology to issue a
14  second invitation to bid or request for proposals for an
    independent party to evaluate the Florida Teaching and
15  Learning Technology Initiative.

16  Requires the independent evaluator to report to the Governor,
    the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
17  Representatives by August 31 of each program year.

18  Provides that the bill will only be implemented to the extent
    specifically funded and authorized by law.
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