Bill Text: NY S02555 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes the commissioner of education to award grants to local school districts for the use of computer technology to teach reading and writing skills to students in kindergarten and grade 1; provides a preference for schools which need assistance; appropriates $5,000,000 therefor.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-01-25 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [S02555 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-S02555-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ S. 2555 A. 3492 2011-2012 Regular Sessions S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y January 25, 2011 ___________ IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. KRUGER -- read twice and ordered print- ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. GIBSON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to grants for use of computer technology by students in kindergarten and grade one and making an appropriation therefor THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 319 to 2 read as follows: 3 S 319. GRANTS FOR PROMOTING USE OF TECHNOLOGY; KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE 4 ONE. 1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL AWARD GRANTS FROM FUNDS AVAILABLE THERE- 5 FOR TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE USE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY TO 6 TEACH READING AND WRITING SKILLS TO STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE 7 ONE BASED ON PLANS TO USE TECHNOLOGY SUBMITTED TO HIM OR HER IN A FORMAT 8 PRESCRIBED BY HIS OR HER GUIDELINES. 9 2. SCHOOL DISTRICTS WISHING TO RECEIVE SUCH GRANTS MUST DEMONSTRATE 10 THAT FIFTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF THEIR PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY 11 LOCAL REVENUES. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL GIVE PREFERENCE TO SCHOOLS IN 12 NEED OF ASSISTANCE AND TO SCHOOLS WHOSE PLANS INCLUDE MAKING THE TECH- 13 NOLOGY AVAILABLE FOR ALL KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE CLASSES WITHIN 14 DESIGNATED BUILDINGS. SUCH PLANS SHALL NOT BE APPROVED FOR FUNDING 15 UNLESS THEY INCLUDE DOCUMENTATION WHICH SHOWS THAT THE PROPOSED SYSTEM 16 HAS BEEN EVALUATED AND DATA IS AVAILABLE WHICH SUPPORTS CLAIMS OF EFFEC- 17 TIVENESS WITH TARGET PUPILS. PRIORITY SHALL BE GIVEN TO THOSE SCHOOL 18 BUILDINGS WHICH (1) HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AS BEING IN 19 NEED OF ASSISTANCE AND (2) INDICATE THAT ALL KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE ONE 20 CLASSES WITHIN THE BUILDING WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT. SUCH PLAN 21 TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY MUST INCLUDE A DETAILED EVALUATION DESIGN WHICH EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD07236-01-1 S. 2555 2 A. 3492 1 WILL RESULT IN EVALUATIVE DATA BEING SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSIONER IN 2 ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCHEDULE HE OR SHE PRESCRIBES AND INCLUDE THE 3 SPECIFIC INSERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT TEACHERS AND 4 ADMINISTRATORS WITHIN THE BUILDING AND DISTRICT ARE ADEQUATELY TRAINED 5 TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY TO ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL. 6 S 2. The sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000), or so much thereof 7 as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the education department 8 from any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit 9 of the local assistance account not otherwise appropriated for school 10 district grants for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this 11 act. Such sum shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the state 12 comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of 13 education, or his or her duly designated representative in the manner 14 provided by law. No expenditure shall be made from this appropriation 15 until a certificate of approval of availability shall have been issued 16 by the director of the budget and filed with the state comptroller and a 17 copy filed with the chairperson of the senate finance committee and the 18 chairperson of the assembly ways and means committee. Such certificate 19 may be amended from time to time by the director of the budget and a 20 copy of each such amendment shall be filed with the state comptroller, 21 the chairperson of the senate finance committee and the chairperson of 22 the assembly ways and means committee. 23 S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.