Occasionally an education bill comes up that commands applause--
such a bill is sb 1490 sponsored by Sen. Dean Cameron. The purpose of
the legislation is to allow school districts base apportionment to be used
for technology instruction programs either through individual tutorial
learning or through distance learning programs.
This allows school district to set up technology programs for teachers to
connect with students outside of the school utilizing computer
technology programs. The school districts would receive their
regular ADA (Average Daily Attendance) count in terms of securing
regular funding in their contact with students off campus reached
through computer courses. Additional monies could be received
through writing grants for Educuational Technology and other grant
monies.
The bill may encourage school districts to become more efficient in
implementing technology and minimizing related labor expenditures.
The bill has the potential to help gifted and talented, home bound, drop
outs, home schoolers, special education, part time employed, migrant,
and Senior students. A certified teacher in the school district would
teach and monitor each course. The following are some possible
applications--
1. Dropouts--many drop outs are students who become bored with
the systems and in fact may be categorized as gifted and talented
students. Many of these students may be going to alternative
schools or have home access to a computer. The experience of
the Minidoka School District demonstrates that when programs are
set up that many of their drop out students quickly take advantage
of these one line classes either at home or at the alternative schools.
In fact, because of these on line classes many drops out re-enroll.
2. Home Schoolers--home schoolers would have access to all of
these classes offered by the school district. They would have to
enroll with the school district but would not have to attend classes
at the school but take everything at home using their computer to
log in. There may be a biology class in high school, for example,
that a home schooler might want to take. There are apparently
even some grant programs that getting computers for home schoolers
might be possible. So the bill offers some enhancement
opportunities for home schoolers and their families. Again, this
is a non-mandated program so it is optional and voluntary.
3. Home Bound Students--their may be special education or
other students because of their disabilities are unable to attend
school. This concept would be useful to their situations.
4. Gifted and Talented Students--This offers many possibilties for
gifted and talented students. Some students may be taking college
courses, for example. In the Minidoka District several of the gifted
and talented students are working with teachers to develop the
software programs.
5. Migrant Students--The Mindoka District has many Hispanic students
who leave for Mexico about Thanksgiving and come back in late
January. They have missed about 6 weeks of the Tri-mester and
hang around until the next one starts. Tutorial learning/distance
learning programs could help them complete their courses.
6. 90% attendance--some students perhaps because of sickness
do not receive credit for certain courses. Perhaps they miss
several major topics but have mastered all other subject matter.
Under this option they could --let's say in the summer--complete
the mastery of the topics they missed--be tested for the mastery
of the topics--and then receive credit for the entire course
without--having to go back to school and retake the whole course.
In other states this approach has brought many dropouts back to
the school. It has helped students with part time jobs. Minidoka
School District has on line assistance for students at night and during
the summer. There will be problems to work out. School Districts
will get their ADA. Software development will take time and not all
classes are suited for on line delivery, but in the main this appears
to be a very innovative idea that with dedication will assist the
entire learning community.
Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 5