WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                          S.B. 721

(III) THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE ELECTRICAL AND TELEPHONE
CONNECTIONS IN THE CLASSROOM; AND

(IV) THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED
CURRICULUM, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT RESOURCES
AND SERVICES IN THE EDUCATIONAL MARKETPLACE;

(4) ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY OFFER NEW AND INTERESTING
POSSIBILITIES TO PROMOTE NEW PARTNERSHIPS AMONG TEACHERS, STUDENTS,
PARENTS, COMMUNITIES, AND INDUSTRY IN THE QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND THE
PROCESS FOR LEARNING;

(5)      THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY WILL CULTIVATE AND MAINTAIN A
TECHNOLOGICALLY LITERATE CITIZENRY AND INTERNATIONALLY COMPETITIVE
WORKFORCE WHEN USED AS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL IN THE LEARNING PROCESS;

(6)      IN SUPPORT OF THE OVERALL NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY POLICY,
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC
AND EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT MUST ASSUME A VITAL LEADERSHIP AND
COORDINATING ROLE IN PROVIDING THE STATE'S VISION AND STRATEGY TO
INFUSE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT ALL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS;

(7) STATE SUPPORT CAN EASE THE BURDEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BY
ENABLING THE ACQUISITION OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, TEACHER TRAINING
AND SUPPORT, AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS;

(8) CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND
ADMINISTRATORS REQUIRES CONSTANT ACCESS TO THE LATEST ADVANCEMENTS
IN TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS EXCITED AND
KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE UNFOLDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CLASSROOM;
AND

(9) THE INCREASING USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS HAS INCREASED THE GAP BETWEEN
SCHOOLING AND WORKFORCE PREPARATION.

7-703.

IT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACT:

(1) TO PROMOTE EQUAL ACCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS TO EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY TO ACHIEVE THE
AMBITIOUS NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS BY THE YEAR 2000;

(2) TO SUPPORT LOCAL EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONSORTIA TO
ENABLE SUCH CONSORTIA TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, STAFF
DEVELOPMENT, AND INFORMATION AND RESOURCE DISSEMINATION TO HELP THE
STATE, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND TEACHERS SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE
TECHNOLOGY INTO KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE CLASSROOMS;

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