PRINTER'S NO. 3923
No. 2742 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY KIRKLAND, LEDERER, TIGUE, M. COHEN, DeWEESE,
SHANER, EVANS, CURRY, BELFANTI, RAMOS, GEORGE, WILLIAMS,
GRUCELA, ROEBUCK, WASHINGTON AND WANSACZ, SEPTEMBER 26, 2000
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 26, 2000
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," providing for technology training for
6 professional employees; and making an appropriation.
7 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
8 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
9 article to read:
10 ARTICLE XII-A.
11 TECHNOLOGY TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYES.
12 Section 1201-A. Establishment of Program.--There is hereby
13 established in the Department of Education the Technology
14 Training for Professional Employes Program. The program shall
15 provide grants to school districts and charter schools to help
16 build technology skills of professional employes, as defined by
17 section 1101 throughout Pennsylvania. The program shall
18 emphasize teaching technology skills to professional employes of
19 school districts and charter schools in Pennsylvania that will
1 assist them in providing an enhanced learning environment for
2 children.
3 Section 1202-A. Eligibility Requirements.--(a) Any school
4 district receiving basic education funding through the General
5 Appropriation Act of the prior fiscal year or charter school
6 approved by the Department of Education in this Commonwealth
7 shall be eligible, upon application, to receive Technology
8 Training for Professional Employes Program.
9 (b) The Department of Education shall establish an annual
10 application procedure through which eligible school districts or
11 charter schools may apply on an annual basis for grants
12 established under this article.
13 (c) Any eligible school district or charter school may
14 reapply for Technology Training for Professional Employes
15 program grants each fiscal year.
16 Section 1203-A. Program Requirements.--(a) Eligible school
17 districts and charter schools shall apply for grants as
18 prescribed by the application procedure established by the
19 Department of Education. The application will contain the
20 following:
21 (1) A proposal that explains how the school district or
22 charter school will utilize funding received from the Technology
23 Training for Professional Employes Program.
24 (2) Identification of professional employes with the
25 greatest need for enhancement of technology skills.
26 (3) Methods of current technology skills training or
27 enhancement for professional employes.
28 (4) Plan for integration of current methods of technology
29 skills training for professional employes.
30 (5) A multi-year plan that shows how the school district or
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1 charter school will assume full financial and programmatic
2 responsibility for the Technology Training for Professional
3 Employes program at the conclusion of the grant period.
4 (6) The estimated budget for each specific program activity.
5 Section 1204-A. Criteria for Awarding Grants.--Grants
6 established and funded under this article shall be awarded to
7 eligible school districts or charter schools complying with the
8 application procedure and program requirements according to the
9 formula established under the Federal Schools and Libraries
10 Universal Service Fund, popularly known as the "E-Rate," created
11 as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-
12 104, 110 Stat. 56).
13 Section 1205-A. Technical Assistance and Monitoring.--The
14 Department of Education shall provide technical assistance and
15 establish methods to ensure the quality of the program receiving
16 a grant, including program monitoring and onsite visitation.
17 Section 1206-A. Reports.--(a) A school district or charter
18 school participating in the Technology Training for Professional
19 Employes program shall provide program and fiscal reports as
20 required by the Department of Education.
21 (b) The Department of Education shall submit a report on the
22 status of the Technology Training for Professional Employes
23 program by December 31 of each year to the chairman and the
24 minority chairman of the Education Committee of the Senate and
25 the chairman and the minority chairman of the Education
26 Committee of the House of Representatives.
27 Section 1207-A. Funding.--For fiscal year 2000-2001, the sum
28 of $10,000,000 is hereby appropriated to the Technology Training
29 for Professional Employes Program, as established by this act.
30 The General Assembly shall annually include in the appropriation
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1 to the Department of Education in the General Appropriation Act
2 an appropriation from the General Fund in an amount sufficient
3 to make grants pursuant to this act.
4 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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