KRS 156.670: Development of master plan for education technology.

(1) The Kentucky Department of Education shall develop the master plan for education

technology and submit the plan to the Kentucky Board of Education and the

Legislative Research Commission for approval. Implementation of each stage of the

master plan shall begin immediately upon approval of the board and the Legislative

Research Commission. The plan shall outline the Commonwealth's five (5) year

activities related to purchasing, developing, and using technology to:

(a) Improve learning and teaching and the ab ility to meet individual students'

needs to increase student achievement;

(b) Improve curriculum delivery to help meet the needs for educational equity

across the state;

(c) Improve delivery of professional development;

(d) Improve the efficiency and productivity of administrators; and

(e) Encourage development by the private sector and acquisition by districts of

technologies and applications appropriate for education.

(2) The five (5) year plan shall cover all aspects of education technology, including bu t

not limited to its use in educational instruction and administration, video and

computer systems, software and hardware, multiple delivery systems for satellite,

microwave, cable, instructional television fixed service, fiber optic, and computer

connections products, the preparation of school buildings for technological

readiness, and the development of staff necessary to implement the plan.

(3) The five (5) year plan shall include specific recommendations to the Kentucky

Board of Education for the adopti on of administrative regulations to establish and

implement a uniform and integrated system of standards and guidelines for

financial accounting and reporting which shall be used by all school districts.

(4) The integrated technology -based communications s ystem shall provide

comprehensive, current, accurate, and accessible information relating to

management, finance, operations, instruction, and pupil programs which are under

the jurisdiction of the Department of Education.

(5) To facilitate communication a mong teachers, parents, students, and prospective

employers of students, and to provide access to many vital technological services,

the five (5) year plan shall include the installation of a telephone in each classroom.

(6) In designing and implementing the five (5) year plan, the department shall consider

seeking the active participation of private organizations whose knowledge and

assistance will be useful.

(7) The department shall submit its recommendations to the Kentucky Board of

Education, which shall accept the recommendations or return them to the

department along with suggestions for changes to make the recommendations

consistent with the policies of the Kentucky Board of Education.