Nevada § 388.795 - Department to establish plan for use of educational technology; requirements of plan; duties of Department; assessment of needs of school districts relating to educational technology; advisory committee authorized

§ 388.795. Department to establish plan for use of educational technology; requirements of plan; duties of Department; assessment of needs of school districts relating to educational technology; advisory committee authorized

1. The Department shall establish a plan for the use of educational technology in

the public schools of this State. In preparing the plan, the Department shall consider: (a) Plans that have been adopted by the school districts and charter schools in this

State and any other relevant plan that has been adopted by the Department; (b) Plans that have been adopted in other states; (c) The information reported pursuant to NRS 385A.310 and similar information included in the annual report of accountability information

prepared by the State Public Charter School Authority, a college or university within

the Nevada System of Higher Education and a city or county that sponsors a charter

school pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 385A.070 ; (d) The results of the assessment of needs conducted pursuant to subsection 5; and (e) Any other information that the Department or the Committee deems relevant to the

preparation of the plan. 2. The plan established by the Department must include recommendations for methods

to: (a) Incorporate educational technology into the public schools of this State; (b) Increase the number of pupils in the public schools of this State who have access

to educational technology; (c) Increase the availability of educational technology to assist licensed teachers

and other educational personnel in complying with the requirements of continuing education,

including, without limitation, the receipt of credit for college courses completed

through the use of educational technology; (d) Facilitate the exchange of ideas to improve the achievement of pupils who are

enrolled in the public schools of this State; and (e) Address the needs of teachers in incorporating the use of educational technology

in the classroom, including, without limitation, the completion of training that is

sufficient to enable the teachers to instruct pupils in the use of educational technology. 3. The following entities shall cooperate with the Department in carrying out the

provisions of this section: (a) The State Board. (b) The board of trustees of each school district. (c) The superintendent of schools of each school district. 4. The Department shall: (a) Develop technical standards for educational technology and any electrical or structural

appurtenances necessary thereto, including, without limitation, uniform specifications

for computer hardware and wiring, to ensure that such technology is compatible, uniform

and can be interconnected throughout the public schools of this State. (b) Allocate money to the school districts from the Trust Fund for Educational Technology

created pursuant to NRS 388.800 and any money appropriated by the Legislature for educational technology, subject

to any priorities for such allocation established by the Legislature. (c) Establish criteria for the board of trustees of a school district that receives

an allocation of money from the Trust Fund to: (1) Repair, replace and maintain computer systems. (2) Upgrade and improve computer hardware and software and other educational technology. (3) Provide training, installation and technical support related to the use of educational

technology within the district. (d) Submit to the Governor and the Committee its plan for the use of educational technology

in the public schools of this State and any recommendations for legislation. (e) Review the plan annually and make revisions as it deems necessary or as recommended

by the Committee. (f) In addition to the recommendations set forth in the plan pursuant to subsection

2, make further recommendations to the Committee as the Department deems necessary. 5. During the spring semester of each even-numbered school year, the Department shall

conduct an assessment of the needs of each school district relating to educational

technology. In conducting the assessment, the Department shall consider: (a) The recommendations set forth in the plan pursuant to subsection 2; (b) The plan for educational technology of each school district, if applicable; (c) Evaluations of educational technology conducted for the State or for a school

district, if applicable; and (d) Any other information deemed relevant by the Department. The Department shall submit a final written report of the assessment to the Superintendent

of Public Instruction on or before April 1 of each even-numbered year. 6. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prepare a written compilation of

the results of the assessment conducted by the Department and transmit the written

compilation on or before June 1 of each even-numbered year to the Committee and to

the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the next regular

session of the Legislature. 7. The Director may appoint an advisory committee composed of employees of the Department

or other qualified persons to provide recommendations to the Department regarding

standards for the establishment, coordination and use of a telecommunications network

in the public schools throughout the various school districts in this State. The advisory committee serves at the pleasure of the Director and without compensation

unless an appropriation or other money for that purpose is provided by the Legislature. 8. As used in this section, “ public school ” includes the Caliente Youth Center, the Nevada Youth Training Center and any other

state facility for the detention of children that is operated pursuant to title 5

of NRS.