§19102. Fund purpose and plan

1.  Purpose.  The fund must be used to enable the full integration of appropriate learning technologies into teaching and learning for the State's elementary and secondary students. The fund must be managed and governed in a manner that provides for the financially sustainable support, use and integration of learning technology in Maine schools as determined by the Legislature.

[PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. TT, §1 (AMD).]

2.  Learning technology plan.  The use of the fund must be based on a learning technology plan, referred to in this section as the "plan," developed annually beginning for school year 2002-03 by the commissioner and adopted by the Legislature. The annual plan must be designed to achieve the goal of preparing students for a future economy that relies on technology and innovation.

The plan developed annually by the commissioner must include, but is not limited to, consideration of the following:

A. The appropriate structure, governance and oversight of the fund;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. TT, §1 (AMD).]

B. The current use of learning technology in classrooms in the State;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

C. The current readiness of faculty to use technology in teaching;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

D. The professional development needed to integrate technology into classroom teaching;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

E. Assessment of the strategy and goals for improving and equalizing access to and the use of learning technology in all schools;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

F. A plan for implementing the plan in several phases, with Phase I implementing the plan for all schools, students and teachers at the 7th and 8th grade levels;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

G. Strategies that coordinate the resources and goals of the fund and the plan with a network of schools and libraries in the State administered by the Public Utilities Commission and the telecommunications education access fund;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. TT, §1 (AMD).]

H. Strategies that coordinate learning technology in kindergarten to grade 12 education with initiatives and resources of the State's postsecondary education institutions; and   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

I. Data tracking and assessment of the progress of implementing the goals of the fund and the plan.   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. TT, §1 (AMD).]

[PL 2013, c. 533, §14 (AMD).]

3.  Guiding principles for plan.  The plan must be consistent with the following guiding principles:

A. Equity. The plan must promote equal opportunity for and provide meaningful access to learning technology resources for students who are economically disadvantaged or have special needs;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

B. Integration with the system of learning results established in section 6209. The plan must support student achievement of the system of learning results through the integration of learning technologies that are content-focused and that add value to existing instructional methods;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

C. Sustainability and avoidance of obsolescence. The plan must provide future sustainability of learning technology resources to adapt to future educational needs and to avoid obsolescence of learning technology resources;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

D. Teacher preparation and professional development. The plan must provide effective preparation, professional development and training programs for teachers and other educators in the use and integration of learning technology tools in curriculum development, instructional methods and student assessment systems; and   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

E. Economic development. The plan must foster economic development across all regions of the State and the preparation of students for an economy that is dependent upon technology.   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

[PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §3 (NEW).]

4.  Learning technology program; evaluation for implementation in grades 7 to 12.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner shall conduct an annual comprehensive review of the learning technology program and report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters on the progress and results of the comprehensive review by February 15th annually. In conducting the comprehensive review, the commissioner shall:

A. Through a competitive bidding process consistent with Title 5, chapter 155, subchapter 1-A contract with an education policy research institute to assess the effect of the laptop program on student performance in achieving the content standards and performance indicators established by the statewide system of learning results established in section 6209 using valid, standardized assessment measures;   [PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. CC, §1 (NEW).]

B. Identify high-need areas for improvements in students' learning and skills;   [PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. CC, §1 (NEW).]

C. Provide targeted training and professional development of teachers from the 7th to 12th grade who participate in the laptop program; and   [PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. CC, §1 (NEW).]

D. Contract with an education policy research institute to conduct a biennial audit including an evaluation of the costs, effectiveness and achievement outcomes of the learning technology program.   [PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. CC, §1 (NEW).]

The commissioner shall submit a report that includes findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation to revise and update chapter 606-B and this chapter, for presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters by January 31st annually.

[PL 2013, c. 533, §15 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1999, c. 731, §FFF1 (NEW). PL 2001, c. 358, §II3 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 20, §TT1 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. CC, §1 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 533, §§14, 15 (AMD).