GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2017 SESSION LAW 2017-57
SENATE BILL 257 (Budget Bill)
DIGITAL LEARNING PLAN/PROGRAMS/FUNDS
SECTION 7.23K.(a) As part of continuing the implementation of the Digital Learning Plan in North Carolina in accordance with Section 8.23 of S.L. 2016-94, the State Board of Education, the Department of Public Instruction, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University (Friday Institute), and The University of North Carolina educator preparation programs shall collaborate to develop and implement a comprehensive professional development strategy and solution for teachers and for students in UNC educator preparation programs for the use of technology and digital resources as teaching tools for K-12 students. Specifications for any products and services that are required to implement the professional development strategy and solution, including selection of a professional development provider, if necessary, shall be procured through a competitive process. The professional development strategy and solution shall include the following:
(1) Competency-based measurement of the technological and pedagogical skills of each teacher or teacher candidate that identifies strengths and gaps according to the NC Digital Learning Competencies for Educators and informs the use of a personalized professional development plan.
(2) Delivery of professional development that is flexible to ensure the greatest possible coverage and convenience for teachers and teacher candidates.
SECTION 7.23K.(b) The State Board of Education, DPI, the Friday Institute, UNC educator preparation programs, and local boards of education of local school administrative units located within counties determined to be the most economically distressed by the Department of Commerce shall collaborate to assess current efforts to provide student digital literacy instruction in kindergarten through eighth grade in those local school administrative units and to develop a plan to strengthen such efforts. Specifications for any products and services that are required to implement digital literacy instruction, including selection of a digital literacy curriculum provider, if necessary, shall be procured through a competitive process. The assessment and plan shall address at least the following:
(1) Provide opportunity for students to learn essential digital literacy skills, including computer fundamentals, computational thinking, keyboarding, digital citizenship and online safety, Web browsing, e-mail and online communication, visual mapping, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations.
(2) Provide teachers with the ability to assess student digital literacy growth.
(3) Facilitate Project-Based Learning (PBL) and other research-based instructional frameworks to enable educators to integrate instruction on digital literacy into core and supplemental subjects, such as mathematics, English language arts, science, social studies, music, and art.
(4) Resources that provide teachers with instructional support and supplemental and extension options to address all students, including students with special needs and students who are English language learners.
(5) Accommodate English language learners with Spanish language instruction.
SECTION 7.23K.(c) Of the six million four hundred twenty thousand dollars ($6,420,000) in recurring funds appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction to accelerate implementation of the State's Digital Learning Plan, as set out in S.L. 2016-94, beginning with the 2017-2018 fiscal year, the Department shall use up to one million eight hundred thousand dollars ($1,800,000) to implement the requirements of this section.