Title 17. Education

Chapter 39. The Children First Act

Part IV. Statewide Development of Instructional Technology

17:3921.3       Technology Strategy Task Force; creation, membership, duties

<Section effective until Dec. 31, 2019. See italic note following this section.> 

A. There is hereby created the Technology Strategy Task Force, hereafter referred to as the “task force”, for the purpose of undertaking a thorough review and analysis of the statewide technology plan provided for in this Part and the status of the technological abilities and projected needs of public elementary and secondary schools. 

B. The task force shall be composed of sixteen members as follows: 

(1) One member appointed by the state superintendent of education. 

(2) One member appointed by the Louisiana School Boards Association. 

(3) One member appointed by the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. 

(4) One member appointed by the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators. 

(5) One university faculty member with expertise in technology, appointed by the Conference of Louisiana Colleges and Universities. 

(6) One member appointed by the Louisiana Internet and Television Association. 

(7) Six members with expertise in technology, one appointed by the Louisiana Publishers Association, one appointed by Greater New Orleans, Inc., one appointed by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, one appointed by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, one appointed by the Academic Division of the Cyber Innovation Center, and one appointed by CenturyLink, Inc. 

(8) One member appointed by the president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. 

(9) One member appointed by the governor. 

(10) One member appointed by the president of the Senate. 

(11) One member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives. 

C. Members shall serve without compensation, but may receive any per diem or reimbursement as allowed by the appointing authority. 

D. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner of original appointment. 

E. The state superintendent shall convene the first meeting of the task force not later than September 1, 2018, and shall designate state Department of Education staff to assist the task force in performing its duties and responsibilities. The chairman of the task force shall be selected at the first meeting from among the membership of the task force. 

F. At a minimum, the task force shall: 

(1) Thoroughly review the statewide educational technology plan as it relates to current capabilities and projected future needs for internet services, facility hardware, individual devices, software applications, and training needs. 

(2) Examine current capabilities and future needs for technology. 

(3) Identify any technology gaps that exist and examine whether the gaps are due to the school’s location or the relative wealth of the public school governing authority. 

(4) Determine whether Louisiana Optical Network Infrastructure is a potential cost-effective partner for providing technology to schools. 

(5) Determine the impact of technology mandates and state and local funding mechanisms. 

(6) Define strategic funding needs. 

(7) Determine a strategy to secure available outside funding to assist in meeting the technology needs of students and schools. 

(8) Develop a long-term strategy to assist the state Department of Education and public school governing authorities to plan for and meet current and future technology needs. 

G. The task force shall submit a written report of its findings and any recommendations to the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education not later than December 1, 2019. 

Added by Acts 2018, No. 381, § 1.