Summary
Delaware HB 200 (Open States or Delaware Legislature) is the state’s appropriations bill. It provides funding for the Delaware Center for Education Technology and Technology Block Grants.
Legislative Analysis
HB 200 provides an appropriation to the Department of Education, and includes $856,300 in funding for the Delaware Center for Education Technology (DCET). The purpose of the DCET is to create a modern educational technology infrastructure in Delaware’s public schools in order to enable students, through the use of information technology, to meet the academic standards set by the State Board of Education and to develop the skills needed by a world-class work force.
The DCET is responsible for and engages in activities related to total project needs and budgets for statewide education technology projects, the establishment of cost-sharing policies, the initiation and delivery of instructional technology programs, implementation on an on-going basis of professional training programs related to statewide education technology, and providing technical assistance to the Department of Education for the initiation of system-wide applications including administrative and curriculum development.
This legislation also appropriates $2.25 million for Technology Block Grants. These funds are allocated proportionally to district and charter schools. Funds are intended to support the following priorities:
- replacement or purchase of equipment supporting classroom instruction;
- supporting technology maintenance in the schools either through the use of technology personnel or contractual services; or
- such other technology needs as may arise which could improve or enhance the technology capabilities of the district or charter school.
The Department of Education has the authority to verify the use of these funds and requires each school district and charter school to annually report on how the funds are spent.
Legislative History
Detailed Vote History: Legiscan | Open States
Approved by Governor Jack Markell on 7/1/2013