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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 890 amends the Technology for Education Act (22-15A-2NMSA 1978) to allow accredited private schools to lease educational technology, including software technology, for students enrolled in accredited private schools. The accredited private schools would submit an application to the Educational Technology Bureau to lease educational technology, including software, if the accredited private school has an approved technology plan and has established and implemented an effective review for monitoring progress by its own (accredited private schools) staff and technology experts.

The bill requires that the SDE establish terms and conditions for lease agreements.

House Bill 890 adds a definition of " software technology" to include computer software, video, audio laser, and CD-ROM discs or videotapes and audiotapes used to enhance learning by students and that do not purport to teach religious tenets, doctrines, or worship.

Significant Issues

The bill specifies that the Educational Technology Bureau in the SDE may use funds from the Education Technology Fund to purchase software technology and other educational technology for the purposes of leasing this equipment and software to accredited private schools.

The bill also specifies that the annual amount expended on educational technology leased to an accredited private school shall not exceed the amount that the accredited private school would have received as a school district. This language equates "accredited private school" to a public school district pursuant to Section 22-15A-9 NMSA 1978 which outlines the distribution of this fund to public schools.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

House Bill 890 does not contain an appropriation.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

SDE staff would by required to determine the technology needs of the accredited private school community and monitor use of the technology per the agreement.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

According to SDE, Section 22-15A-10 NMSA 1978 requires that school districts file an annual report with the SDE regarding distributions received, expenditures made, and educational technology obtained by the district and such other related information as may be required by the SDE. House bill 890 does not address the requirement that an annual report by the private schools be reviewed by the Department.

RS/ar