Summary

Maine LD 1509 (Open States or Maine Legislature) establishes the Digital Literacy Fund Z130. The fund will provide support for the development of a technical assistance program that designs instructional materials for promoting digital literacy, as well as teacher professional development and training in the use of online learning resources. The program will also provide for the implementation of a new clearinghouse containing information on the use of online learning resources.

Legislative Analysis

LD 1509 allocates $156,115 each year for fiscal years 2013-14 and 2014-15 in order to implement the objectives of the Digital Literacy Fund. This fund was established in 2011 with a base allocation of $500 each year from 2011-12 through 2014-15. LD 1509 increases the funding by $155,615 for the final two years.

The fund was created to pay for the development of a technical assistance program that designs instructional materials that promote digital literacy, teacher professional development and training on the use of online learning resources, and new administrative costs and other expenses not related to a learning through technology program already funded in statute. The fund may also be used to implement a new clearinghouse for information on the use of online resources, including best practices in the use of open educational resources and open-source textbooks for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

LD 1509 is a positive development for digital learning in Maine and will benefit both students and teachers through increasing their access to high quality educational materials online and helping them make good use of those materials.

Legislative History

Detailed Vote History: Legiscan | Open States

Vetoed by Governor Paul LePage on 6/24/2013; Veto overridden on 6/26/2013