Sec. 22i.
(1) From the funds appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2015-2016 an amount not to exceed $23,500,000.00 for the technology readiness infrastructure grant program for districts or intermediate districts on behalf of their constituent districts. Funds received under this section shall be used for the development or improvement of districts' technology hard infrastructure, the shared services consolidation of technology and data and for the coordination and strategic purchasing of hardware and software in preparation for the delivery of assessments through online models. This allocation shall not be made after 2015-2016.
(2) Subject to the requirements of this section, the department shall develop a competitive application process and method of grant distribution to eligible districts and intermediate districts that demonstrate need for grants under subsection (1). The department may consult with the department of technology, management, and budget during the grant process and grant distribution. Grants to districts shall not exceed $2,000,000.00 per district. A grant to an intermediate district on behalf of its constituent districts shall not exceed $2,000,000.00 per constituent district. To receive a grant under subsection (1), an intermediate district shall demonstrate that a grant awarded to the intermediate district on behalf of its constituent districts would provide savings compared to providing grants to individual districts. The department shall give additional consideration to applicants that propose external partnerships and articulate plans for sustainability beyond the grant funding.
(3) From the money allocated in subsection (1), there is allocated an amount not to exceed $11,250,000.00 for district participation incentives as described in this subsection. Grants awarded under this subsection shall be distributed on an equal per pupil basis, not to exceed $10.00 per pupil. To receive funding under this subsection, a district must meet all of the following:
(a) The district agrees to limit the spending of participation incentive grants to technology readiness efforts, including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) Online or digital assessment, including universal diagnostic screening tools.
(ii) In-building wireless connectivity.
(iii) Network services, such as additional bandwidth and content filtering.
(iv) Computer or device purchasing.
(v) Technology readiness for instruction and data collaborations that support online assessment readiness.
(b) The district agrees to be represented in the program known as "TRIG sponsored statewide 470 bids for E-rate funding" and to consider using the awarded vendors. However, the district is not obligated to purchase from that bid or those vendors.
(c) The district agrees to participate in any survey or data collection process considered necessary by the department.
(d) The district ensures that its intermediate district also agrees to requirements of subdivisions (a) to (c) for the district to receive participation funds.
(4) From the money allocated in subsection (1), there is allocated an amount not to exceed $9,250,000.00 for device purchasing incentives.
(5) From the money allocated in subsection (1), there is allocated an amount not to exceed $2,200,000.00 for data systems integration.
(6) From the money allocated in subsection (1), there is allocated an amount not to exceed $300,000.00 for E-rate activities.
(7) From the money allocated in subsection (1), there is allocated an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 for administration of the technology readiness infrastructure grant program.
(8) Not later than January 1, 2017, the department shall consolidate and prepare a summary from the total project reports from each grantee under this section to include measurable outcomes based on grant objectives. The report shall include a summary of compiled data from each grantee to provide a means to evaluate the effectiveness of the grant project. The department shall submit the report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on state school aid and on the department budget and to the house and senate fiscal agencies.
(9) Any unexpended funds for 2015-2016 shall lapse to the state school aid fund.
(10) From the funds appropriated under this article, the department shall not contract for or pay for a contract that creates informational technology infrastructure that is owned or operated by this state, a local unit of government, a community college or state public university, or a district or intermediate district, and is operated in a manner that provides informational technology services to public entities in competition with businesses located in this state.
(11) As used in this section:
(a) "Hard infrastructure" means technology hardware necessary to move to an online learning and testing environment, including, but not limited to, fiber, servers, wireless computing networks, and necessary peripherals.
(b) "Shared services consolidation of technology and data" means projects that support the move to a collaborative multiple organizational approach to managing hardware, software, peripherals, and data integration and display of appropriate information for parents, teachers, administrators, and this state.
History: Add. 2012, Act 201, Eff. Oct. 1, 2012 ;-- Am. 2013, Act 60, Eff. Oct. 1, 2013 ;-- Am. 2014, Act 196, Imd. Eff. June 24, 2014 ;-- Am. 2015, Act 85, Eff. Oct. 1, 2015
Last modified: October 10, 2016