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AB-836 Task force for education technology. (2009-2010)

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Enrolled  September 16, 2009
Passed  IN  Senate  September 09, 2009
Passed  IN  Assembly  September 10, 2009
Amended  IN  Senate  September 04, 2009
Amended  IN  Senate  August 20, 2009
Amended  IN  Senate  July 24, 2009
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 29, 2009
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 15, 2009

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2009–2010 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 836

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Torlakson

February 26, 2009

An act to add Article 15.1 (commencing with Section 51875) to Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to education technology.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 836, Torlakson. Task force for education technology.
Existing law establishes various programs to enhance education technology, including the California Technology Assistance Project, which is composed of regional consortia that work collaboratively with school districts and county offices of education to meet locally defined educational needs that can be effectively addressed with the use of technology, as specified.
This bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish a task force for education technology, funded by private donations, for the purpose of making preliminary recommendations on technology literacy model standards for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, in California public schools. The bill would require the task force to consist of no more than 15 education technology experts, including, but not necessarily limited to, parents, current credentialed teachers, administrators, school board members, researchers, and industry representatives.
This bill would require the task force to make preliminary recommendations to the Superintendent on technology literacy model standards for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, within one year after the date the task force is convened, require the Superintendent to recommend technology literacy model standards to the state board within 2 months after receiving the recommendations for the model standards from the task force, and require the state board to adopt technology literacy model content standards, pursuant to the recommendations of the Superintendent, within 2 months after receiving the recommendations for the model standards from the Superintendent.
The bill also would require the recommendations to be made by the task force to the state board and the Legislature within 18 months after the task force is convened. The bill would require the task force to address specified issues and, to the extent feasible, to consider previously developed state technology plans, as specified.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Article 15.1 (commencing with Section 51875) is added to Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:
Article  15.1. Education Technology Task Force

51875.
 (a) The Superintendent shall establish and convene a task force for education technology. The task force shall make preliminary recommendations on technology literacy model standards for grades 7 to 12, inclusive. The operations of the task force shall be funded by private donations.
(b) The membership of the task force shall consist of no more than 15 education technology experts, including, but not necessarily limited to, parents, current credentialed teachers, administrators, school board members, researchers, and industry representatives. Current credentialed teachers shall comprise a majority of the task force. The task force shall include at least one member from a large school district, at least one member from a medium-sized school district, and at least one member from a small school district. The members representing these various sizes of school districts may be any combination of parents, teachers, administrators, or school board members.
(c) As used in this article, “technology literacy” means the understanding of what technology is, how it is created, and how it shapes, and is shaped by, society.

51875.1.
 (a) The task force shall make preliminary recommendations to the Superintendent on technology literacy model standards for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, within one year after the date the task force is convened. The Superintendent shall recommend technology literacy model standards to the state board within two months after receiving the recommendations for the model standards from the task force. The state board shall adopt technology literacy model content standards, pursuant to the recommendations of the Superintendent, within two months after receiving the recommendations for the model standards from the Superintendent.
(b) The task force shall address the issues set forth in subdivision (c) as part of its recommendations, to be presented to the state board and the Legislature within 18 months after the date the task force is convened. To the extent feasible, it shall consider previously developed state technology plans, including, but not necessarily limited to, a plan developed pursuant to provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.) and Chapter 830 of the Statutes of 1999.
(c) (1) Professional development, based on a study of existing industry models for professional development in technology and existing school professional development programs. The task force shall provide recommendations for the improvement of school technology in professional development.
(2) Electronic learning resources and instructional materials, based on a study of trends in long-term compatibility of resources and hardware and best practices in the use of electronic resources. The task force also shall develop plans for long-term compatibility of resources and hardware.
(3) Hardware, with an emphasis on long-term compatibility between hardware and software systems and intersystem compatibility. The task force also shall address extended life cycle plans to preclude the premature obsolescence of equipment.
(4) Telecommunications infrastructure, based on a study of industry standards for wireless interoperability. The task force also shall recommend adoption of a standard for telecommunications infrastructure for schools.
(5) Funding, based on an assessment of various funding models. The task force also shall make recommendations on methods of providing reasonable levels of funding for technology in schools on a continuing basis.

51875.3.
 The state department is authorized to accept private donations to support the expenses incurred in operating the task force pursuant to this article.