Bill Text: HI HB251 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Education.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [HB251 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB251-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
251 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Investing in education and providing Hawaii's students with the proper resources to succeed and become college- and career-ready is of paramount importance. With increased globalization, twenty-first-century learning skills and technologies are essential for Hawaii's students to advance in their learning potential and growth. As technology continues to evolve, it brings new opportunities and challenges for teachers and students. Using a common platform to learn beyond just the classroom will allow students to progress further in their academic careers. Therefore, increasing equitable access to technology for all public-school students greatly benefits the public.
During the 2013-2014 school year, the legislature appropriated $8,200,000 to the department of education to implement the access learning pilot program. In 2013, teachers in eight schools were provided laptop computers and professional-development opportunities to assist in integrating technology into their classrooms. In 2014, laptop computers were provided to students. A study of the pilot program by the University of Hawaii West Oahu found that teachers, students, and parents believed that classroom technology significantly enhanced the quality of public education in Hawaii.
Computers have become vital in today's technology-driven society, and computer proficiency is a skill that is necessary to succeed in an ever-changing, globalized world. Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, required the department of education to develop and implement a statewide computer science curricula plan for public-school students in kindergarten through grade twelve and also required that each public high school offer at least one computer science course during each school year. As computer science curricula grow throughout the State, so does the need to provide Hawaii's students with resources, such as laptop or tablet computers, so that they can take full advantage of this new learning opportunity. With nearly five hundred thousand computer jobs nationwide and workplaces heavily dependent on technology and communications, Hawaii was found to be lagging in student preparation. Fair access to technology is crucial for furthering a student's academic and career success.
Access to digital technologies allows for cost-effective and environmentally-friendly measures through the use of digital curricula. As schools across the nation shift toward systems of project-based learning, it is imperative that the State provide its students with resources that allow for research and ready access to information. Furthermore, through the use of technology, students have the ability to share their work with a wider and more varied audience, increasing creativity and peer-to-peer collaboration on a local, national, and global level.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to increase technology integration and digital-learning resources within Hawaii's public schools to ensure that all students have equitable access to technology and learning opportunities.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for laptop or tablet computers, as deemed necessary by the department of education, to be used by teachers and students for digital teaching and learning.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Public Schools; Laptop and Tablet Computers; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds for laptop or tablet computers to be used by teachers and students for digital teaching and learning. (HB251 HD1)
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
