SF 616

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; creating a pilot program to provide a SMART
Board in school districts throughout the state; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin SMART BOARD PILOT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin Any school district or charter school may apply to the
Department of Education for schools to participate in the SMART Board pilot program as
a pilot site. The Department of Education shall develop criteria to evaluate school districts
and charter schools that are most able to act as pilot sites to demonstrate the educational
advantages of SMART Board technology.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin The Department of Education shall award grants to schools to the
SMART Board technology pilot sites. Grants must be awarded to recipients in amounts
sufficient to ensure SMART Board technology can be installed and operated in every
classroom at each pilot site. The Department of Education shall award SMART Board
pilot sites to ensure an equal geographic representation throughout the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Public-private funding. new text end

new text begin The Department of Education shall develop a
process to receive private sector gifts and bequests on behalf of the SMART Board pilot
program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin The Department of Education must report to the education
committees of the Minnesota house of representatives and senate by January 15, 2009, on
the ability of the SMART Board technology to advance student achievement.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department. new text end

new text begin The sum indicated in this section is appropriated from
the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin SMART Boards. new text end

new text begin For creating a grant program under section 1 to provide
SMART Boards in schools throughout the state.
new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 10,000,000 new text end

new text begin ..... new text end

new text begin 2008 new text end

new text begin A school district that receives a grant under this appropriation must reserve ten
percent of its grant for staff development purposes.
new text end

new text begin This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end