1999 Minnesota Statutes

     125B.21 Minnesota education telecommunications council. 

    Subdivision 1.    State council membership.  The 
 membership of the Minnesota education telecommunications council 
 established in Laws 1993, First Special Session chapter 2, is 
 expanded to include representatives of elementary and secondary 
 education.  The membership shall consist of three 
 representatives from the University of Minnesota; three 
 representatives of the board of trustees for Minnesota state 
 colleges and universities; one representative of the higher 
 education services offices; one representative appointed by the 
 private college council; one representative selected by the 
 commissioner of administration; eight representatives selected 
 by the commissioner of children, families, and learning, at 
 least one of which must come from each of the six higher 
 education telecommunication regions; a representative from the 
 office of technology; two members each from the senate and the 
 house of representatives selected by the subcommittee on 
 committees of the committee on rules and administration of the 
 senate and the speaker of the house, one member from each body 
 must be a member of the minority party; and three 
 representatives of libraries, one representing regional public 
 libraries, one representing multitype libraries, and one 
 representing community libraries, selected by the governor.  The 
 council shall: 

    (1) develop a statewide vision and plans for the use of 
 distance learning technologies and provide leadership in 
 implementing the use of such technologies; 

    (2) 

    recommend educational policy relating to 
 telecommunications; 

    (3) determine priorities for use; 

    (4) oversee coordination of networks for post-secondary 
 campuses, kindergarten through grade 12 education, and regional 
 and community libraries; 

    (5) review application for telecommunications access grants 
 under Minnesota Statutes, section 125B.20, and recommend to the 
 department grants for funding; 

    (6) determine priorities for grant funding proposals; and 

    (7) work with the information policy office to ensure 
 consistency of the operation of the learning network with 
 standards of an open system architecture. 

    The council shall consult with representatives of the 
 telecommunication industry in implementing this section.  

    Subd. 2.    District council membership.  District 
 organizations that coordinate applications for telecommunication 
 access grants are encouraged to become members of the regional 
 higher education telecommunication council in their area. 

    Subd. 3.    Criteria.  In addition to responsibilities 
 of the council under Laws 1993, First Special Session chapter 2, 
 as amended, the telecommunications council shall evaluate grant 
 applications under section 124C.74 and applications from 
 district organizations using the following criteria: 

    (1) evidence of cooperative arrangements with other 
 post-secondary institutions, school districts, and community and 
 regional libraries in the geographic region; 

    (2) plans for shared classes and programs; 

    (3) avoidance of network duplication; 

    (4) evidence of efficiencies to be achieved in delivery of 
 instruction due to use of telecommunications; 

    (5) a plan for development of a list of all courses 
 available in the region for delivery at a distance; 

    (6) a plan for coordinating and scheduling courses; and 

    (7) a plan for evaluation of costs, access, and outcomes. 

    HIST: 1Sp1995 c 3 art 12 s 7; 1Sp1997 c 4 art 9 s 12; 1998 c 
 270 s 4; 1998 c 359 s 20; 1999 c 241 art 4 s 18,28