PRINTER'S NO. 2327
No. 1888 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, KUKOVICH, M. N. WRIGHT, COWELL, FAJT,
STURLA, DeWEESE, MELIO, McCALL, TIGUE, BELFANTI, MANDERINO,
CORRIGAN, HALUSKA, CORPORA, CAPPABIANCA, SURRA, LEVDANSKY,
PETRONE, WOZNIAK, STEELMAN, D. R. WRIGHT, GAMBLE, MIHALICH,
LAUGHLIN, GRUITZA, STETLER, JAMES, BUXTON, RUDY, DeLUCA,
YEWCIC, PETRARCA, GORDNER, MARKOSEK, SANTONI, GEORGE, BLAUM,
VEON, EVANS, SHANER, SAINATO, WALKO, READSHAW, VAN HORNE,
COY, MERRY, JOSEPHS, TRICH, TRELLO, RICHARDSON, BISHOP,
BATTISTO, BELARDI, CURRY, GIGLIOTTI, MUNDY, YOUNGBLOOD,
ROONEY, ROBERTS, DERMODY, PESCI, HORSEY, LUCYK, RAMOS,
TRAVAGLIO, JAROLIN, DALEY AND COLAFELLA, JUNE 28, 1995
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 28, 1995
AN ACT
1 Establishing a program within the Department of Education to
2 provide grants to school districts and area vocational-
3 technical schools for the acquisition of equipment for the
4 advancement of educational programs; and making an
5 appropriation.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Short title.
9 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Technology
10 Education Advancement for Children (TEACH) Act.
11 Section 2. Definitions.
12 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14 context clearly indicates otherwise:
15 "Department." The Department of Education of the
1 Commonwealth.
2 "Equipment." Instructional equipment, other than fixtures
3 annexed to and forming part of the real estate, which is
4 suitable for and to be used by students and/or teachers. The
5 term includes, but is not limited to, computer software and
6 hardware, audiovisual aids, laboratory equipment, textbooks and
7 any other educational equipment and machinery.
8 "Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
9 Section 3. Equipment grant program.
10 (a) Establishment.--There is established within the
11 department a program to provide grants to public school
12 districts and area vocational-technical schools. The program
13 shall be administered by the department. The funds provided
14 through this program shall be used exclusively for the
15 acquisition of new equipment and the upgrading of existing
16 equipment that is necessary for the introduction, continuation
17 or advancement of curriculum in any of the following areas:
18 (1) Computer literacy.
19 (2) Mathematics.
20 (3) Language.
21 (4) Science.
22 (5) Vocational education.
23 (b) Award of grants.--The equipment grant program shall be a
24 competitive grant program for which the secretary is
25 responsible. Priority in the grant process shall be given to
26 those school districts and area vocational-technical schools
27 that demonstrate the greatest actual need.
28 Section 4. Distribution of grant funds.
29 Prior to the distribution of any grant funds, the department
30 shall require the recipient school district or area vocational-
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1 technical school to document the following:
2 (1) The equipment is needed to initiate, continue or
3 advance elementary or secondary school curriculum or
4 implement long-distance learning efforts.
5 (2) The funds will be expended only for equipment, and
6 at least 75% of the funds will be expended for computer
7 software and hardware.
8 (3) The funds will not be used as matching funds for any
9 other State program.
10 Section 5. Report to General Assembly.
11 The department shall submit not later than September 1 of
12 each year, beginning in 1996, an annual report to the General
13 Assembly on the impact of the program, the types of equipment
14 funded and grant recipients. All recipients of grants under this
15 act shall provide information requested by the department for
16 the purposes of this report.
17 Section 6. Appropriation.
18 The sum of $42,810,000, or as much thereof as may be
19 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of Education
20 for the fiscal year July 1, 1995, to June 30, 1996, to carry out
21 the provisions of this act. The appropriation shall be a
22 continuing appropriation and shall lapse on June 30, 2000.
23 Section 7. Expiration.
24 This act shall expire on June 30, 2000.
25 Section 8. Effective date.
26 This act shall take effect July 1, 1995, or immediately,
27 whichever is later.
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