A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to implement the recommendations of the Business Education technology alliance.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part i.  plan and funding for a virtual high school

SECTION 1.(a)  The State Board of Education, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, the Independent Colleges and Universities, and the State Board of Community Colleges shall develop E‑learning standards and plans for infrastructures that provide virtual learning opportunities accessible to students and other citizens through all North Carolina schools, universities, and community colleges. In developing the plan for the public schools, the State Board of Education shall focus initially on high schools while also researching and developing, where appropriate, E‑learning for Middle/Junior High and Elementary schools. E‑learning programs shall support both teachers and students.
SECTION 1.(b)  It is the intent of the General Assembly to give public schools the highest priority in funding for and development of E‑learning. Funding for E‑learning should be a new appropriation and not come exclusively from existing funds.
SECTION 1.(c)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year.  The State Board of Education shall use these funds to establish and implement during the 2005‑2006 school year a pilot virtual high school.
SECTION 1.(d)  If the pilot program is successful, it is the intent of the General Assembly to provide funding to implement virtual high school on a statewide basis for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year.

part ii.   feasibility study for developing regional EDUCATION networks

SECTION 2.(a)   The North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center and the E‑NC Initiative, in collaboration with representatives from Local Education Agencies, The University of North Carolina, the State Board of Education, the State Chief Information Officer, and the Community College System shall perform a feasibility study on developing regional education networks that are centrally managed to provide and sustain broadband connectivity to individual students and teachers in schools, community colleges, and universities.
The study shall include an evaluation of existing technology infrastructures, such as the statewide infrastructure, the North Carolina Research and Education Network, or the regional infrastructure, Winston‑Net. These state-of-the-art infrastructures may be capable of supporting growth in traffic and thus serve as a backbone infrastructure for delivering high‑speed access to underserved regions.
The North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center and the E‑NC Initiative shall report the results of the study to the Regular 2006 Session of the 2005 General Assembly.
SECTION 2.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year to perform the feasibility study pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

part iii. plan for projecting school technology funding needs

SECTION 3.(a) 1The State Board of Education and the State Chief Information Officer shall ensure that the State Technology Education Plan, which establishes criteria for Local Education Agency (LEA) School Technology Plans, includes a baseline template for:
(1)	Technology infrastructure including broadband connectivity, personnel recommendations and other resources needed to operate effectively from the classroom desktop to local, regional and State networks, and
(2)	An evaluation component that provides for LEA accountability for maintaining quality upgradeable systems. 
SECTION 3.(b) The Department of Public Instruction shall hold regional workshops for LEAs to provide guidance in developing School Technology Plans that meet the criteria established in the State Technology Plan. The State Chief Information Officer will assist with the regional meetings as needed to provide technical assistance. The Department shall randomly check local school technology plans to ensure that LEAs are implementing their plans as approved. The Department shall report to the State Board of Education and the State Chief Information Officer on  which LEAs are not complying with their plans. The report shall include the reasons the LEAs are out of compliance and a recommended plan of action to support each such LEA in carrying out its plan.
SECTION 3.(c)  The State Board of Education shall determine the total amount of funds needed for the recurring total cost of ownership to implement, maintain, and upgrade technology infrastructures and instructional technology as specified in the revised LEA School Technology Plans. This shall include personnel costs for both technical and instructional needs so that a three‑ to five‑year budget plan can be developed for the General Assembly.
SECTION 3.(d)  The State Board of Education shall also study and identify the types of resources needed to operate schools designed to meet the needs of 21st- century learners.
The State Board shall report the results of this study to the Regular 2006 Session of the 2005 General Assembly.

part iv.  annual report that highlights the IMPACT of education preparation on economic growth

SECTION 4.7 The North Carolina Board of Science and Technology shall provide an annual report by county on the status of trends that reflect the impact of education on economic growth for the 21st century. This report shall be available for citizens and shall contain information about the status of each county with regard to education and economic growth.

part v.  process for more assistance for e‑rate

SECTION 5.  2The Department of Public Instruction shall provide assistance with E‑rate applications and ensure that adequate staffing is available for this purpose. The staffing shall include a minimum of one full‑time coordinator who has technical knowledge and skills. The Department shall notify school systems about the person or office assigned the responsibility.
The Department shall provide the State Board of Education with an annual report on e‑rate, including funding, commitments, and enrollment by local education agencies.

part vi.  planning for a state central INFRASTRUCTURE office

SECTION 6.(a) The Office of State Budget and Management shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a State Central Infrastructure Office that would collect and manage information for technology, water, sewer, and other utility infrastructures needed to assist communities in becoming and remaining economically viable. 
SECTION 6.(b)   The Office of State Budget and Management shall report the results of this study to the Regular 2006 Session of the 2005 General Assembly.  The report shall include legislative proposals, including a proposal to define the term "infrastructure" in the General Statutes to include technology. 

part vii.  effective date

SECTION 7.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.