REPORT TITLE:
Edu.; Computer Task Force


DESCRIPTION:
Mandates the DOE to establish a task force on the utilization of
computers in public school classrooms and to create a master plan
for computer utilization.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           2231
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO A TASK FORCE AND MASTER PLAN ON COMPUTER UTILIZATION
   IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that while students are in
 
 2 the elementary grade levels in public schools, they receive
 
 3 fairly good computer training.  At the intermediate grade levels,
 
 4 however, there is a massive decrease in computer training and
 
 5 access to computers.  At the high school level, access and
 
 6 training becomes virtually non-existent.  There is no rationale
 
 7 for this lack of progression in the area of computers as students
 
 8 progress through the public school system.
 
 9      The legislature further finds that there are situations in
 
10 which public school teachers lack sufficient training in the area
 
11 of computers and thus under-utilize them in the classroom.  While
 
12 there are some computer resource teachers, their work is not
 
13 dedicated to the area of computers, and they have been available
 
14 on a limited basis.
 
15      The legislature recognizes that pursuant to Act 309, Session
 
16 Laws Hawaii 1998, and the submission of a report providing a
 
17 broad implementation plan for computer utilization in public
 
18 schools throughout the State, the department of education has
 
19 taken steps toward addressing utilization of computers in public
 

 
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 1 school classrooms.  The legislature wants to ensure that
 
 2 increased and knowledgeable computer utilization in public
 
 3 schools materializes.
 
 4      The purpose of this Act is to mandate the department of
 
 5 education to establish a task force on the utilization of
 
 6 computers in the classroom and to create a detailed,
 
 7 comprehensive master plan on the utilization of computers in the
 
 8 classroom.
 
 9      SECTION 2.  The department of education shall establish a
 
10 task force on the utilization of computers in public school
 
11 classrooms statewide.  In order to build and establish a solid
 
12 foundation for computer education in Hawaii's public schools, the
 
13 task force shall create a detailed, comprehensive, statewide
 
14 master plan on the utilization of computers in the classroom for
 
15 each grade level in public schools.  The master plan shall be
 
16 submitted to the legislature no later than twenty days before the
 
17 beginning of the 2001 regular session.
 
18        The task force shall be composed of one representative,
 
19 chosen by their respective group, from each of the following:
 
20 Hawaii Association of School Technology Educators; board of
 
21 education; department of education; department of business,
 
22 economic development and tourism; and Hawaii State Student
 
23 Council.
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           2231
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
 2 
 
 3                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________