Grant funds may be expended for projects designed to provide for education technology and its effective utilization, including, but not limited to, acquiring hardware and software systems, wiring and equipment needed to extend connections within, between, from or to schools, and professional development; provided that any acquisition of systems of equipment shall be Year 2000 compliant; provided, further that no grant funds shall be expended for administrative, personnel, and other operational costs. The department shall require that any grant recipient submit a report detailing any hardware or software to be purchased with grant funds, how it will be utilized to improve learning, any changes in classroom practices anticipated as a result of such funding, and any professional development the grant recipient has provided or will provide to teachers and others who will utilize such equipment and software. Any grants funded pursuant to this section shall be matched by the recipient from all sources, including local, federal, or private resources; provided, that one hundred percent of all education technology expenditures, including related administrative and operating costs, made in the fiscal year within which occurs the submission of an updated local technology plan by a school district, regional school district, charter school, or educational collaborative, may be used for the purposes of determining its local match. Any such matching resources shall at least be at a ratio of three to one; provided, that the department of education shall ensure that said matching resources do not place an unreasonable financial burden upon grant recipients based upon a recipients' available financial resources.
The department shall submit a report detailing the grants awarded pursuant to this section to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate committees on science and technology. In implementing the provisions of this section, the department shall consult with the information technology division within the executive office for administration and finance with respect to education technology projects funded pursuant to this section. The department may enter into contracts to fund matching grants awarded pursuant to this section in an amount not to exceed thirty-five million dollars.
SECTION 2. The department of education, in consultation with the information technology division within the executive office for administration and finance, shall provide funds to assist in the implementation of information technology infrastructure and services to schools and cities and towns throughout the commonwealth through the so-called Massachusetts community network; provided that any such infrastructure and services shall be Year 2000 compliant. Such infrastructure and services shall, at a minimum, be designed to link schools to each other and to other entities within state and local governments. The department may enter into contracts in an amount not to exceed ten million dollars for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this section; provided, that not more than one million dollars may be expended by the department for the development of on-line educational resources that are consistent with the learning standards of state curriculum frameworks.
SECTION 3. The department of housing and community development, in consultation with the information technology division within the executive office for administration and finance, shall establish a program to assist in the funding of computer learning centers at state subsidized family housing developments, or such other community access centers as the department may determine, to increase access, including after school or after work, for students of low income households to information technology systems and training in the use of such systems. Any such funds shall be expended in accordance with guidelines established by the department. Any acquisition of systems or equipment with funding provided pursuant to this section shall be Year 2000 compliant. In implementing the provisions of this section, the department shall also consult with the department of education, and the department of economic development. The department shall submit a report detailing projects that receive funding pursuant to this section to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate committees on science and technology. The department may enter into contracts not to exceed five million dollars to implement the provisions of this section.