1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; providing for technology for 
  1.3             improving learning grants; appropriating money. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [TECHNOLOGY FOR IMPROVING LEARNING GRANTS.] 
  1.6      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] Technology for improving 
  1.7   learning grants are established to help schools implement 
  1.8   research-proven, technology-based instructional programs in 
  1.9   reading, writing, and math so students may successfully meet or 
  1.10  exceed state expectations on the Minnesota comprehensive 
  1.11  assessments. 
  1.12     Subd. 2.  [ELIGIBILITY.] (a) Elementary schools listed on 
  1.13  the department of children, families, and learning's year 2000 
  1.14  adequate yearly progress report of title I schools needing 
  1.15  improvement are given first priority to apply to the 
  1.16  commissioner for technology for improving learning grants.  In 
  1.17  order to be considered for a grant award, schools eligible under 
  1.18  this paragraph must apply to the commissioner by October 1, 2001.
  1.19     (b) If funds are available, schools that were unable to 
  1.20  apply according to paragraph (a) may apply to the commissioner 
  1.21  for a technology for improving learning grant.  In order to be 
  1.22  considered for a grant award, schools eligible under this 
  1.23  paragraph must apply to the commissioner by December 1, 2001.  
  1.24  Priority must be given to schools in rural Minnesota with lower 
  2.1   student performance on the Minnesota comprehensive assessments 
  2.2   at grades three and five. 
  2.3      Subd. 3.  [APPLICATION; MATCH.] (a) Each grant applicant 
  2.4   must submit an application in the form and manner prescribed by 
  2.5   the commissioner of children, families, and learning. 
  2.6      (b) Each grant applicant must demonstrate in their 
  2.7   application their financial commitment to the program by 
  2.8   providing a 25 percent match to either the annual professional 
  2.9   development funds or one year of the content and assessment 
  2.10  software. 
  2.11     Subd. 4.  [REQUIREMENTS.] (a) In the first year of the 
  2.12  grant, each grant recipient must create a technology for 
  2.13  improving learning plan, including, but not limited to, the 
  2.14  following: 
  2.15     (1) a process for deploying the computers in grades 
  2.16  kindergarten through five classrooms and their teachers; 
  2.17     (2) a curriculum plan, including selection of software 
  2.18  based on documented effectiveness in the areas of reading, 
  2.19  writing, and math; 
  2.20     (3) a process for developing computer portfolios of student 
  2.21  work; and 
  2.22     (4) a plan to provide at least 80 hours of professional 
  2.23  development on technology and linking it to curriculum, best 
  2.24  teaching practices, and portfolio assessment. 
  2.25     (b) In the second year of the grant, each grant recipient 
  2.26  must fully implement the technology for improving learning plan, 
  2.27  have students maintain a computer portfolio demonstrating 
  2.28  individual progress in the targeted content areas, and continue 
  2.29  professional development on technology, best teaching practices, 
  2.30  and portfolio assessment. 
  2.31     Subd. 5.  [EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE.] Each grant recipient 
  2.32  must use the grant proceeds to purchase a wireless set of laptop 
  2.33  computers for each grade level from kindergarten through grade 
  2.34  five, a laptop computer for each classroom teacher in the 
  2.35  indicated grade levels, computer software for the content areas 
  2.36  of reading, writing, and math, and a multimedia computer station 
  3.1   for each of the indicated grade levels for developing digital 
  3.2   portfolios to document student performance. 
  3.3      Subd. 6.  [EVALUATION.] (a) The department of children, 
  3.4   families, and learning, in collaboration with a 
  3.5   research-oriented, state-funded higher education or nonprofit 
  3.6   educational institution, must evaluate the program to determine 
  3.7   issues for replication by other Minnesota schools and to measure 
  3.8   student achievement on the Minnesota comprehensive assessments 
  3.9   in reading, writing, and math.  The collaborating institution 
  3.10  must coordinate communication among the participants, provide 
  3.11  information on technology-based best practices, assist with 
  3.12  program planning, and arrange for program evaluation to 
  3.13  determine successful practices, critical issues for replication 
  3.14  by other teachers, and to track student achievement on Minnesota 
  3.15  comprehensive assessments.  The evaluation must continue until 
  3.16  the students in the first kindergarten classes to implement the 
  3.17  program have taken the fifth grade Minnesota comprehensive 
  3.18  assessments in reading, writing, and math.  The department must 
  3.19  report on the evaluation biennially to the education committees 
  3.20  of the legislature, no later than February 15 of each 
  3.21  odd-numbered year, until the evaluation is complete. 
  3.22     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  3.23     $30,000,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2002 from the 
  3.24  general fund to the department of children, families, and 
  3.25  learning for technology for improving learning grants.  This 
  3.26  appropriation is available until June 30, 2003.