Summary SB 1500 (Open States or Florida Legislature), the General Appropriations Act, establishes Florida’s budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. There are several provisions in the budget relating to digital learning, however, two of those provisions were vetoed by Governor Rick Scott. Legislative Analysis SB 1500 establishes Florida’s budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year and…
In Plain English: MO HB 2
Summary Missouri HB 2 (Open States or Missouri Legislature) appropriates funds to the state Board of Education and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Fiscal Year 2014. Legislative Analysis HB 2 appropriates funds to the state Board of Education and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Fiscal Year 2014. Relevant appropriations include:…
9 Feb 2014
In Plain English: LA HB 1
Summary Louisiana HB 1 (Open States or Louisiana Legislature) is the state’s budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2013-14. This bill protected the Louisiana Course Choice program by finding alternative means of funding the program after the Supreme Court ruled the original funding method was unconstitutional. It invests an additional $69 million in K-12 education,…
7 Feb 2014
In Plain English: IL HB 208
Summary Illinois HB 208 (Open States or Illinois Legislature) is an education appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2014. Funding remained at similar levels to the previous year. This bill includes State and District Technology Support (formerly known as Technology for Success) and the School Technology Revolving Loan Program. Legislative Analysis HB208 appropriates $2.5 million…
6 Feb 2014
In Plain English: MT HB 210
Summary Montana HB 210 (Open States or Montana Legislature) appropriates $300,000 from the general fund to the Office of Public Instruction for the Montana Digital Academy, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. This funding was necessary to cover expenses associated with greater than projected enrollments. Legislative Analysis HB 210 appropriates $300,000 from the…
6 Feb 2014
In Plain English: LA SR 167
Summary Louisiana SR 167 (Open States or Louisiana Legislature) is a Senate resolution requesting the Department of Education to establish a study group to conduct an expense analysis of replacing textbooks with e-books, implementing cloud technology, and related training. Legislative Analysis SR 167 is a senate resolution requesting the Department of Education to establish a…
6 Feb 2014
In Plain English: WA HB 1076
HB 1076 (Open States or Washington Legislature) expands participation in innovation academy cooperatives by allowing students whose home district does not offer the innovation academy to transfer into a district that offers those cooperative schools. The bill discriminates against online-only classes and stipulates that a student must enroll in classes other than just online. Legislative…
6 Feb 2014
Education Coalition Commends FCC for Much-Needed Reforms to E-Rate Program
WASHINGTON – Today, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler announced the agency will double its investment – with an additional $2 billion over the next two years – in support of broadband networks in our nation’s schools and libraries. The FCC will also streamline the application process, increase transparency, provide more assistance to schools…
5 Feb 2014