DAR File No. 37745

Education, Administration

Rule R277-617

Smart School Technology Program

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 37745
Filed: 06/14/2013 10:26:40 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is amended to provide criteria and procedures for the Board to select schools to participate in the Smart School Technology Program consistent with S.B. 284, passed in the 2013 General Legislative Session.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendments provide updated school selection criteria, establish a timeline for selecting schools to participate in the Smart School Technology Program, and define the schools' funding match requirements.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 53A-1-709(8)(d)
• Subsection 53A-1-401(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to the state budget. The Smart School Technology Program will be administered by existing Utah State Office of Education staff within existing budgets.

local governments:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to local government. Funding is provided for Smart School Technology Program participants.

small businesses:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to small businesses. This rule and the amendments apply to public education and do not affect businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities. Funding is provided for Smart School Technology Program participants.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There is no compliance costs for affected persons. Smart School Technology Program participants will comply with the requirements in this rule.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule and I see no fiscal impact on businesses.

Martell Menlove, State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at carol.lear@schools.utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/31/2013

This rule may become effective on:

08/07/2013

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-617. Smart School Technology Program.

R277-617-1. Definitions.

A. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education.

B. "Independent Evaluating Committee" means the committee established under Section 53A-1-709(5).

C. "Smart School Technology Program (Program)" means a three-year program developed by a selected technology provider for a customized whole-school technology deployment plan individualized for each school selected by the Board.

D. "Technology," for purposes of this rule, means technology provided as examples under Section 53A-1-709(7) or other technology approved by the independent evaluating committee.

E. "USOE" means the Utah State Office of Education.

[F. "Whole-school technology deployment plan" means a plan:

(1) developed and implemented in a selected public school;

(2) that involves every student and every teacher;

(3) that uses technology identified in the school's application; and

(4) that will assist the school staff in improving student academic achievement during the period of the Program.

]

R277-617-2. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized by Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests the general control and supervision of public education in the Board, by Section 53A-1-401(3) which authorizes the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities, and by Section 53A-1-709(8)(d) that directs the Board to make rules specifying procedures and criteria to be used for selecting schools that may participate in the Program.

B. The purpose of this rule is to provide criteria and procedures for the Board to select schools to participate in the Smart School Technology Program.

 

R277-617-3. School Selection Criteria.

[A. The independent evaluating committee shall select a minimum of 3 schools and a maximum of 10 schools, based on number of applicants, cost of developing/implementing Program in the applicant schools, school needs, funds available and other relevant information.

B. Public schools that include grade levels K-12 are eligible.

C. The independent evaluating committee shall recommend and the Board shall select proposals from schools that represent, to the extent possible, geographic, economic and demographic diversity.

]A. Public schools that include any combination of grades K-12 shall be eligible for the Program

B. An applicant school shall provide a technology implementation plan with its application. At a minimum, the plan shall:

(1) identify technology (or technologies) that the school will employ;

(2) estimate numbers of technology devices needed based on numbers of students expected to be in the school for identified school years;

(3) explain, including explaining the use of technology and providing supporting documentation, about how technology will support the improvement of student achievement with respect to the core curriculum;

(4) explain how technology will improve students' skill using technology;

(5) explain what filtering devices or protections will be used by the school to protect students from inappropriate technology use and sites;

(6) agree that the school will provide all data and information required by the USOE for evaluation purposes, as requested by the USOE;

(7) explain the current technology capabilities and equipment available at the applicant school; and

(8) provide additional information requested by the USOE on the application.

 

R277-617-4. [Procedures]Required Matching Funds.

[A. A Program application shall be available from the USOE by June 3, 2012.

B. The application must be received by the USOE before June 29, 2012.

C. All applications shall be evaluated by the independent evaluating committee and a joint recommendation provided to the Board by July 20, 2012.

D. The Board shall make final school selections at the August, 2012 meeting of the Board.

]A. The USOE application form will provide specific information about the level or amount of matching funds or resources that the school must provide and when the matching funds must be available.

B. The application shall explain how the school or LEA will provide matching funds to satisfy the requirement of Section 53A-1-709 (8)(d) for matching funds.

C. The applicant school shall assure the USOE that it will meet the requirement for matching local funds through the duration of the Program or may be obligated to repay the state funds to the USOE.

 

R277-617-5. School Selection and Evaluation.

[The Program shall be evaluated and reports submitted by the Board consistent with Section 53A-1-709(9).

]A. The USOE shall provide an application for the Program before May 15, 2013.

B. Completed applications shall be returned to the USOE before June 1, 2013.

C. The USOE shall screen all applications for compliance with all state laws, R277-617 and application requirements.

D. The USOE shall seek the participation and advice of the independent evaluating committee in selecting final applications to recommend for funding. The Board shall make final school selections.

E. To the extent possible, selected applicants shall represent geographic, economic and demographic diversity, in addition to other criteria provided in the USOE application.

F. Funded applicants shall be selected and notified before June 30, 2013.

G. Selection timelines may be modified by mutual agreement between the USOE and the independent evaluating committee.

H. The Board and the education technology provider shall evaluate the Program consistent with Section 53A-1-709(9).

 

KEY: schools, technology

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [July 23, 2012]2013

Notice of Continuation: June 10, 2013

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-401(3); 53A-1-709(8)(d)