Bill Text: NY A05686 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: An act to create the "21st Century Education Act" by directing the education department to develop a pilot program that maximizes the use of technology in the classroom to meet the state's educational standards

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 25-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-12 - held for consideration in education [A05686 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-A05686-Introduced.html

---

                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         5686
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   February 17, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  CONTE,  QUINN, RABBITT, REILICH, SALADINO --
         Multi-Sponsored by -- M.   of A.  ALFANO,  BACALLES,  BARCLAY,  BARRA,
         BURLING,  BUTLER, CALHOUN, CROUCH, ERRIGO, FINCH, FITZPATRICK, JORDAN,
         KOLB, OAKS, O'MARA, RAIA, SAYWARD, SCOZZAFAVA, TEDISCO, THIELE,  TOWN-
         SEND -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
       AN  ACT  to  create  the  "21st  Century Education Act" by directing the
         education department to develop a pilot program that maximizes the use
         of technology in the classroom to meet the state's educational  stand-
         ards
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. This act shall be known and  may  be  cited  as  the  "21st
    2  Century Education Act".
    3    S  2.  The  education  department is hereby authorized and directed to
    4  create a pilot program to explore the feasibility and benefits of  maxi-
    5  mizing  the  use  of  computer  technology  in  the  classroom to assist
    6  students in meeting the state's educational standards.  1.  The  program
    7  shall  consist  of  twenty  schools  nominated  by  school districts for
    8  participation in the program and selected by the department. The program
    9  shall  consist  of  sixth  grade-level  students  from  twenty  schools.
   10  Participating  students  and  teachers shall receive computer technology
   11  and software, instruction on how to use the equipment  and  software  to
   12  maximize  the  use  of  such  equipment to reach the state's educational
   13  standards.  Selected  students  shall  continue  to  receive  technology
   14  through  the  eighth  grade.    Such  technology shall consist of laptop
   15  computers with wireless capability for each student and teacher, as well
   16  as educational software appropriate to each grade  level,  instructional
   17  services  for  use of the equipment and software; and ongoing technolog-
   18  ical  and  curriculum  development  support.  Parents  of  participating
   19  students  shall also be provided with at least one day of program orien-
   20  tation and optional computer and software instruction each school year.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD04294-01-9
       A. 5686                             2
    1    2. Participating classes shall be selected from applications submitted
    2  to the department by school districts.  Applications  for  participation
    3  shall  be  developed  by  the department and shall require applicants to
    4  submit a proposal describing: (a) how the computers and  software  tech-
    5  nology  will be integrated into the classroom setting; (b) how the tech-
    6  nology will assist participants in  meeting  or  exceeding  the  state's
    7  educational  standards,  the  local  school  district's  goals,  and the
    8  students' academic, vocational, and employment goals; and (c) how  local
    9  community  participation  from  businesses and civic groups will enhance
   10  the benefits of  the  state's  contributions  to  the  program.  Schools
   11  selected  for participation shall receive the necessary grants and tech-
   12  nology for up to a three year  period;  provided,  however  that  if  at
   13  anytime  the  department  determines  that  the  school  district is not
   14  complying with the conditions of the pilot program it may  withdraw  the
   15  state's support for its participation in the program.
   16    S  3. The education department is authorized and directed to conduct a
   17  study of the pilot program during its  three  year  period.  Such  study
   18  shall include, but not be limited to: (1) an assessment of the extent to
   19  which  technology assists the students in reaching the school district's
   20  educational goals for participants and the state's educational  require-
   21  ments;  (2)  an  assessment  of  the  ways  technology helps students at
   22  different grade levels achieve personal educational or employment goals;
   23  and (3) assess whether and how further investment into wireless technol-
   24  ogy integration is appropriate for the state. Such study and recommenda-
   25  tions shall be submitted to the  legislature  no  later  than  one  year
   26  following the completion of the pilot program's three year tenure.
   27    S 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
   28  it  shall  have become a law and shall apply to the academic school year
   29  next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law;  provided,
   30  however,  that  effective  immediately,  the  education  department  may
   31  promulgate any rules or regulations necessary for the timely implementa-
   32  tion of this act on such effective date.