PRINTER'S NO. 1703
No. 1187 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY MUSTO, MELLOW, BOSCOLA, FONTANA, WASHINGTON,
STOUT, COSTA, RHOADES, C. WILLIAMS, KITCHEN, STACK, LAVALLE,
WOZNIAK, FERLO, O'PAKE, KASUNIC, A. WILLIAMS, BROWNE AND
GREENLEAF, APRIL 17, 2006
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 17, 2006
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 the Classrooms for the
6 Future Program.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
11 article to read:
12 ARTICLE XV-F
13 THE CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE PROGRAM
14 Section 1501-F. Definitions.
15 The following words and phrases when used in this article
16 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
17 context clearly indicates otherwise:
18 "Classroom for the future station." A teacher computer,
19 printer, scanner, imaging software, webcam, electronic
1 whiteboard and projector, or other hardware or software as
2 determined by the department.
3 "Department." The Department of Education of the
4 Commonwealth.
5 Section 1502-F. Establishment.
6 The Classrooms for the Future Program is established to
7 provide grants to school districts and area vocational-technical
8 schools to improve teaching and learning in Pennsylvania high
9 schools by using state-of-the-art technology in English, math,
10 science and social studies instruction.
11 Section 1503-F. Grants for Classrooms for the Future.
12 (a) Grant award.--Grants shall be awarded to school
13 districts and area vocational-technical schools by the
14 department from funds appropriated for this purpose. Grants
15 shall only be made to the extent funds are available.
16 (b) Use of grant proceeds.--
17 (1) Grants shall be used to provide a high school
18 building within the district or an area vocational-technical
19 school with all of the following:
20 (i) A number of laptop computers that, when combined
21 with comparable computers already available in the school
22 in its classrooms and on mobile carts, provide for one
23 computer per student in English, math, science and social
24 studies classes.
25 (ii) A Classrooms for the Future station for each
26 English, math, science and social studies classroom in a
27 school.
28 (iii) School facility infrastructure.
29 (iv) Providing technical support.
30 (v) Up to five video cameras per school.
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1 (vi) A stipend for release time to a member of a
2 high school staff who has been recognized by the
3 department as a Keystone Technology Integrator.
4 (2) The items in paragraph (1)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv),
5 (v) and (vi) shall be purchased as specified by the
6 department, pursuant to a contract entered into by the
7 Department of General Services for use by Commonwealth school
8 districts and area vocational-technical schools, if such a
9 contract exists.
10 (c) Grant award process.--
11 (1) Grants shall be awarded through a grant review
12 process established by the department.
13 (2) School districts and area vocational-technical
14 schools shall be eligible to apply for grants as prescribed
15 by the department. Maximum grant awards shall be established
16 by the department based on a formula that may consider the
17 market value/income aid ratio and average daily membership.
18 The department may establish matching requirements for grant
19 recipients.
20 (3) The application for a grant shall be made at such
21 time and in such form as the department may require.
22 (4) The application shall require that staff members
23 participate in Classrooms for the Future continuing
24 professional education, as determined by the department.
25 (d) Duties of department.--The department shall establish
26 guidelines necessary for the implementation of this article.
27 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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