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.
feedback