1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; establishing the technology 
  1.3             innovation grant program for schools to purchase or 
  1.4             lease wireless computing devices for students; 
  1.5             appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.6             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 125B. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [125B.30] [TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION GRANTS.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [SCHOOL DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION 
  1.10  GRANT.] (a) A school district, charter school, or a nonpublic 
  1.11  school may apply for a grant under this subdivision to provide a 
  1.12  wireless computing device for each student in a middle school, 
  1.13  junior high school, or high school.  Applicants receiving an 
  1.14  award under this section shall provide the opportunity for each 
  1.15  student to receive a wireless computing device that will remain 
  1.16  with the student for as long as the student is enrolled in the 
  1.17  school or district, or for the duration of the grant agreement 
  1.18  with the state or other contracted agreement. 
  1.19     (b) Applicants will be eligible for a grant of up to 
  1.20  $....... per student in the school.  In order to receive a 
  1.21  grant, the applicant must demonstrate a local match of up to 
  1.22  $....... per student in the school.  The local matching amount 
  1.23  may come from state, local, or other eligible federal funds that 
  1.24  have been allocated to the district or the school.  Once awarded 
  1.25  a grant, the applicant shall receive a decreasing grant amount 
  1.26  each year over a three-year period as determined by the 
  2.1   department.  The applicant may also require a deposit to be paid 
  2.2   by the student or parent. 
  2.3      (c) An applicant may elect to purchase or lease wireless 
  2.4   computing devices from a vendor other than the statewide 
  2.5   partnership described in subdivision 3, paragraph (d), if the 
  2.6   department determines that the vendor selected by the applicant 
  2.7   meets the requirements of this section. 
  2.8      Subd. 2.  [APPLICATION.] To qualify for a grant under this 
  2.9   section, the applicant shall submit an application to the 
  2.10  department and to the Minnesota Education Telecommunications 
  2.11  Council.  The application shall include at least the following: 
  2.12     (1) how the applicant will provide the opportunity for each 
  2.13  pupil in the school to receive a wireless computing device; 
  2.14     (2) a plan demonstrating how the applicant will use the 
  2.15  wireless computing device to increase overall student 
  2.16  achievement, help improve adequate yearly progress as determined 
  2.17  by the department, and decrease the student achievement gap in 
  2.18  the school or district; 
  2.19     (3) a plan for teacher professional development on 
  2.20  technology integration, content and curriculum, and 
  2.21  communication with parents; 
  2.22     (4) a three-year to five-year plan for increasing the local 
  2.23  share of expenses for the wireless computer program; 
  2.24     (5) how the applicant will amend its local technology plan 
  2.25  as required under state and federal law to reflect the wireless 
  2.26  computer program; 
  2.27     (6) a plan to provide adequate insurance coverage for the 
  2.28  computer equipment; 
  2.29     (7) a policy for appropriate use of computer equipment for 
  2.30  students; and 
  2.31     (8) a plan for providing low-cost or free Internet access 
  2.32  to students. 
  2.33     Subd. 3.  [DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.] (a) The department, in 
  2.34  consultation with the Minnesota Education Telecommunications 
  2.35  Council, shall develop, implement, and operate the technology 
  2.36  innovation grant program and make program grants.  The 
  3.1   department shall sign a memorandum of understanding with the 
  3.2   Minnesota Education Telecommunications Council that provides for 
  3.3   joint administration of program grants under this section. 
  3.4      (b) The department, in consultation with the Minnesota 
  3.5   Education Telecommunications Council, shall award grants under 
  3.6   this section from state appropriations for this purpose and from 
  3.7   the eligible funds under the federal Department of Education, 
  3.8   title II, part D, educational technology grant funds.  The 
  3.9   department shall consider regional diversity in awarding grants. 
  3.10     (c) The department shall identify private insurance 
  3.11  providers that will provide adequate insurance coverage for the 
  3.12  wireless computing devices used by grant recipients. 
  3.13     (d) By August 1, 2004, the department, in consultation with 
  3.14  the Minnesota Education Telecommunications Council, shall select 
  3.15  a program partner through a request for proposals process for a 
  3.16  total learning technology package that includes, but is not 
  3.17  limited to, a wireless computing device, software, professional 
  3.18  development, service and support, and for management for the 
  3.19  overall implementation of the technology innovation grant 
  3.20  program.  The private partner selected in the request for 
  3.21  proposals shall demonstrate significant efficiencies and 
  3.22  economies of scale and must have experience in the development 
  3.23  and successful implementation of large-scale, school-based 
  3.24  wireless technology projects. 
  3.25     (e) The department and the Minnesota Education 
  3.26  Telecommunications Council shall seek other private, corporate, 
  3.27  and other federal funding sources to supplement the grant awards 
  3.28  under this section. 
  3.29     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  3.30     The following amount has been appropriated from the general 
  3.31  fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year 
  3.32  designated for technology innovation grants under Minnesota 
  3.33  Statutes, section 125B.30: 
  3.34       $.......     .....     2005