PRINTER'S NO. 1191
No. 983 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, RAFFERTY, WONDERLING, BOSCOLA,
ERICKSON, REGOLA, COSTA, O'PAKE, PICCOLA, GREENLEAF AND
FONTANA, JUNE 19, 2007
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JUNE 19, 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
19 technology.
1 (3) Provide professional development opportunities to ensure
2 nonpublic and private school teachers can use technology
3 effectively with the curriculum.
4 (4) Complement Link-to-Learn's efforts and add value to the
5 Pennsylvania Education Network by forging collaborative
6 partnerships between educational institutions.
7 (5) Complement Federal technology initiatives.
8 (b) The Department of Education through intermediate units
9 shall have the power and duty to purchase computer hardware,
10 software, connectivity and related technology to loan them to
11 all children residing in this Commonwealth who are enrolled in
12 grades kindergarten through twelve of a nonpublic and private
13 school and may provide professional development opportunities.
14 The Secretary of Education shall establish a per capita formula
15 based on the number of eligible students in nonpublic and
16 private schools and each intermediate unit. Funds shall be
17 allocated to intermediate units who shall purchase and loan the
18 equipment to such children based on the per capita formula
19 established by the Secretary of Education and may provide
20 professional development opportunities. Equipment and services
21 shall not be used for sectarian purposes.
22 (c) In July of 2007, and annually thereafter, the Secretary
23 of Education shall allocate to each intermediate unit an amount
24 equal to the number of nonpublic school students as of October 1
25 of the preceding school year who are enrolled in nonpublic
26 schools within the intermediate unit times thirty dollars ($30).
27 The Secretary of Education shall increase this figure on a
28 proportionate basis whenever there is an increase in the basic
29 education funding for public school districts in the General
30 Appropriation Act enacted for the then current State fiscal
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1 year.
2 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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