Directs the commissioner of education to establish an online learning advisory council to make recommendations for establishment of a statewide online and blended learning program.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8845--A
IN ASSEMBLY
February 20, 2014
___________
Introduced by M. of A. NOLAN, RUSSELL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education -- reported and referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to direct the commissioner of education to establish an online
learning advisory committee to make recommendations on establishing a
statewide online and blended learning program; and providing for the
repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. 1. The commissioner of education shall establish a tempo-
2 rary online learning advisory council which shall develop recommenda-
3 tions relating to a statewide online and blended learning network. Such
4 advisory council shall be composed of 11 members of whom two members
5 shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the governor, two members
6 shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the temporary president of
7 the senate, two members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of
8 the speaker of the assembly and the remaining members shall be certified
9 teachers, principals and superintendents from rural, urban and suburban
10 school districts appointed by the commissioner of education. The commis-
11 sioner shall appoint a chair of the advisory council. The members of the
12 advisory council shall represent the diversity of school environments
13 throughout the state and have demonstrated experience with expertise in
14 one or more of the following areas: development, programming and use of
15 online technology and blended learning for education in public schools,
16 delivery of online education in rural communities, regional educational
17 services, teaching with online and blended learning program and insti-
18 tutions of higher learning that train teachers about online and blended
19 educational instruction.
20 2. The recommendations of the advisory council shall include, but not
21 be limited to:
22 (a) guidance for use of a statewide online and blended learning
23 network;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10800-11-4
A. 8845--A 2
1 (b) best practices and model school district policies from throughout
2 the state and nation that may be considered by school districts in
3 implementation of an online and blended learning program including
4 broadband access;
5 (c) academic programming suited for online and blended learning;
6 (d) partnerships with institutions of higher education and other rele-
7 vant stakeholders for workforce opportunities using online and blended
8 learning; and
9 (e) a review of teaching and professional development policies and
10 practices.
11 § 2. The members of the advisory council shall receive no compensation
12 for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary
13 expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this
14 act, provided that the advisory council shall be authorized to conduct
15 meetings in a manner that minimizes travel and costs as determined by
16 the commissioner of education.
17 § 3. The advisory committee shall submit a final report of its recom-
18 mendations to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the
19 speaker of the assembly and the chairs of the education committees in
20 the assembly and senate on or before October 1, 2015.
21 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
22 deemed repealed October 1, 2015.
