HB5000 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 18464 RAS 44550 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB5000

Introduced , by Rep. Cynthia Soto

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.708 new

Creates the Children's Low-cost Laptop Act. Requires the State Board of education to establish a procedure and develop criteria for the administration of a low-cost laptop pilot project whereby low-cost laptop computers are provided to each student, teacher, and relevant administrator in a participating elementary school and the use of open-source educational software and computer skills training is implemented. Sets forth program and reporting requirements, including the requirement that the pilot program last for a period of at least 2 years. Establishes the Elementary Students' Low-cost Laptop Fund. Sets a repeal date for the Act of August 31, 2011. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Fund. Effective August 31, 2008.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Children's Low-cost Laptop Act.

Section 5. Policy and purpose. The General Assembly finds that the decreasing cost of computer technology makes it possible today to equip more children than ever before with 21st century learning tools. The dramatic expansion of low-cost computing options and the worldwide reliance on computer technology for commerce, education, information, and social interaction makes it ever more important to introduce computing skills to students at an early age. Accordingly, the State Board of Education shall by rule establish a pilot project to provide a low-cost laptop computer to each student, teacher, and relevant administrator in a participating elementary school and implement the use of open-source educational software and computer skills training in order to improve academic achievement and the progress measures listed in subsection (a) of Section 20 in this Act.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Low-cost laptop" means a portable personal computer suitable for use among elementary school-aged children, under $400 in initial cost.

"State Board" means the State Board of Education.

Section 15. Pilot project; Elementary Students' Low-cost Laptop Fund.

(a) The State Board shall establish a procedure and develop criteria for the administration of a low-cost laptop pilot project. The pilot project shall be for a period of at least 2 years. In administering the pilot project, the State Board shall:

(1) select participating elementary schools;

(2) define the conditions for the distribution and use of laptop computers and other technologies;

(3) purchase and distribute laptop computers and other technologies;

(4) enter into contracts as necessary to implement the pilot project;

(5) monitor local pilot project implementation; and

(6) conduct a final evaluation of the pilot project.

(b) The Elementary Students' Low-Cost Laptop Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All money in this Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board for the pilot project. To implement the pilot project, the State Board may use any funds appropriated by the General Assembly for the purposes of the pilot project, as well as any gift, grant, or donation given for the pilot project. The State Board may solicit and accept a gift, grant, or donation of any kind from any source, including from a foundation, private entity, governmental entity, or institution of higher education, for the implementation of the pilot project. Funds for the pilot project may not be used for the construction of a building or other facility. The State Board shall use pilot project funds for the following:

(1) low-cost laptop computers;

(2) equipment, including batteries, power cords, or other software and hardware back-ups; and

(3) the hiring of technical support staff to administer training for participating teachers.

The State Board may not allocate more than $100 million for the pilot project. The pilot project may be implemented only if sufficient funds are available under this Section for that purpose.

Section 20. Program participation requirements.

(a) A school may apply to the State Board for the establishment of a low-cost laptop pilot project for the entire school or for a particular grade or group of classrooms in the school.

The State Board shall select up to 300 schools to participate in the pilot project. At least one-third of the selected schools shall be located in the City of Chicago; at least one-third shall be located in the area that makes up the counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, and that portion of Cook County that is located outside of the City of Chicago; and at least one-third shall be located in the remainder of the State.

The State Board shall select the participating districts and schools for the pilot project based on each district's or school's need for the pilot project. In selecting participants, the State Board shall consider each school's:

(1) free and reduced lunch eligible student population;

(2) access to educational technology resources;

(3) rate of satisfactory performance on standardized tests;

(4) readiness to incorporate technology into its classrooms;

(5) availability of technology support staff; and

(6) planned methods of measuring the progress of the pilot project.

(b) Each participating school shall establish a low-cost laptop committee to help implement the project. The school board of a participating school shall appoint individuals to the committee. The committee may be composed of the following:

(1) educators;

(2) administrators;

(3) community leaders;

(4) parents; and

(5) any other individual the school board finds appropriate.

In districts with multiple participating schools, separate committees for each school must be formed. Each committee shall develop a low-cost laptop usage plan that outlines how the laptops should be used in the participating school. The committee shall consider (i) problems in the school that could be improved through the low-cost laptops and (ii) the capabilities of available low-cost laptops and (iii) the self-directed nature of laptop learning.

The committee shall present the low-cost laptop usage plan to the school board at least semi-annually for the life of the project.

Section 25. Reporting.

(a) The school board of each school participating in the pilot project shall send an annual progress report to the State Board no later than August 1 of each year that the school is participating in the pilot project. The report must include the project's effect on:

(1) academic progress of students who are participating in the pilot project, as measured by performance on assessment instruments;

(2) student progress in schools or classrooms participating in the pilot project as compared with student progress in schools or classrooms not participating;

(3) student performance on assessment instruments required by the State Board;

(4) school cost savings on textbook or other purchases replaced by laptop abilities;

(5) attendance rates;

(6) teacher performance and retention;

(7) communications among students, teachers, parents, and administrators;

(8) parental involvement in education;

(9) community involvement and support for the school; and

(10) student proficiency in technologies or "computer literacy".

(b) Each student participating in the pilot project may retain the wireless laptop computer provided under the pilot project as long as the student is enrolled in a participating school.

(c) After the expiration of the pilot project, the State Board shall review the project based on the annual reports the State Board receives from the school board of participating school districts.

Section 30. Repeal. This Act is repealed on August 31, 2011.

Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.708 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.708 new)

Sec. 5.708. The Elementary Students' Low-cost Laptop Fund. This Section is repealed on August 31, 2011.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect August 31, 2008.