PRINTER'S NO. 2121
No. 1646 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY GRUCELA, BELFANTI, BIANCUCCI, BRENNAN,
CALTAGIRONE, CREIGHTON, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, HARHAI, HARKINS,
HERSHEY, KORTZ, KOTIK, MURT, PETRONE, PYLE, RAPP, READSHAW,
SABATINA, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SHIMKUS, SOLOBAY, SURRA,
TANGRETTI, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 27, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 27, 2007
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 grants to
6 benefit students in nonpublic and private schools.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 1505-A of the act of March 10, 1949
10 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added
11 April 27, 1998 (P.L.270, No.46), is amended to read:
12 Section 1505-A. Technology Grants for Equipment and
13 Services.--(a) The purposes of the technology grants to benefit
14 students in nonpublic and private schools are to:
15 (1) Improve the education Pennsylvania's nonpublic and
16 private school students receive.
17 (2) Increase nonpublic and private students' access to
18 worldwide information, expertise and resources available through
1 technology.
2 (3) Provide professional development opportunities to ensure
3 nonpublic and private school teachers can use technology
4 effectively with the curriculum.
5 (4) Complement Link-to-Learn's efforts and add value to the
6 Pennsylvania Education Network by forging collaborative
7 partnerships between educational institutions.
8 (5) Complement Federal technology initiatives.
9 (b) The Department of Education through intermediate units
10 shall have the power and duty to purchase computer hardware,
11 software, connectivity and related technology to loan them to
12 all children residing in this Commonwealth who are enrolled in
13 grades kindergarten through twelve of a nonpublic and private
14 school and may provide professional development opportunities.
15 The Secretary of Education shall establish a per capita formula
16 based on the number of eligible students in nonpublic and
17 private schools [and] in each intermediate unit. Funds shall be
18 allocated to intermediate units who shall purchase and loan the
19 equipment to such children based on the per capita formula
20 established by the Secretary of Education and may provide
21 professional development opportunities. Equipment and services
22 shall not be used for sectarian purposes.
23 (c) In July 2007, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of
24 Education shall allocate to each intermediate unit an amount
25 equal to the number of nonpublic school students as of October 1
26 of the preceding school year who are enrolled in nonpublic
27 schools within the intermediate unit times thirty dollars ($30).
28 The Secretary of Education shall increase this figure on a
29 proportionate basis whenever there is an increase in the basic
30 education funding of public school districts in the General
20070H1646B2121 - 2 -
1 Appropriation Act enacted for the then-current State fiscal
2 year.
3 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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