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To enact section 3353.20 of the Revised Code to | 1 |
establish an interactive distance learning pilot | 2 |
project. | 3 |
Section 1. That section 3353.20 of the Revised Code be | 4 |
enacted to read as follows: | 5 |
Sec. 3353.20. (A) The eTech Ohio commission shall develop | 6 |
and implement an interactive distance learning pilot project to | 7 |
provide, beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, access to at | 8 |
least three interactive distance learning courses in each school | 9 |
year free of charge for all high schools operated by school | 10 |
districts. The courses offered shall include two advanced | 11 |
placement courses and one foreign language course. | 12 |
The commission shall do all of the following: | 13 |
(1) Contract with and pay the compensation for teachers to | 14 |
develop and teach the interactive distance learning courses | 15 |
offered by the pilot project; | 16 |
(2) Produce and broadcast the courses offered by the pilot | 17 |
project; | 18 |
(3) Provide the funds for schools to purchase video | 19 |
conferencing telecommunications equipment and connectivity | 20 |
devices, if necessary, so that the schools may participate in the | 21 |
pilot project; | 22 |
(4) Assist schools in arranging for the purchase and | 23 |
installation of telecommunications equipment and connectivity | 24 |
devices, if necessary, so that the schools may participate in the | 25 |
pilot project; | 26 |
(5) Pay, for up to one school year, the cost of upgrading | 27 |
internet service for schools that currently have only a T-1 or | 28 |
slower connection; | 29 |
(6) Offer training in the use of the telecommunications | 30 |
equipment necessary to participate in the pilot project; | 31 |
(7) Administer and oversee the operation of the pilot | 32 |
project. | 33 |
(B) The department of education, in consultation with the | 34 |
chancellor of the Ohio board of regents, shall select courses to | 35 |
be offered by the pilot project and shall develop the standards | 36 |
for the curriculum of each course selected. | 37 |
(C) The commission and the department jointly, and in | 38 |
consultation with the chancellor, shall select the teachers to | 39 |
develop and teach the courses offered by the pilot project. | 40 |
(D) The commission, the department, and the chancellor | 41 |
jointly shall notify schools of and promote participation in the | 42 |
pilot project. | 43 |
(E) Each high school shall determine the manner in which and | 44 |
facilities at which students may participate in courses consistent | 45 |
with specifications for technology and connectivity required by | 46 |
the commission. | 47 |
(F) The grade for a student enrolled in a course offered | 48 |
through the pilot project shall be assigned by the course teacher | 49 |
and shall be transmitted to the student's high school. | 50 |
(G) Not later than December 31, 2010, the superintendent of | 51 |
public instruction, the chancellor, and the commission shall | 52 |
submit to the governor and the general assembly, in accordance | 53 |
with section 101.68 of the Revised Code, a formative evaluation of | 54 |
the implementation and results of and legislative recommendations | 55 |
for changes in the pilot project. | 56 |