Ed-Tech Legislative Watch: October 2022

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of reports on pending legislation related to education technology, other than annual budget amendments, to meet challenges such as cybersecurity, online learning and the digital transformation of school operations. We will update the list as warranted by new information. If you would like to bring a bill to our attention that we may have missed, please contact Center for Digital Education managing editor Andrew Westrope at awestrope@erepublic.com.

CALIFORNIA

S.B.876: Educational technology: Digital Education Equity Program: county offices of education

Purpose: To establish a grant program that would support ed-tech services by county offices of education, and to provide professional development to aid their implementation.

Status: Second reading in second chamber on June 30, 2022.

MASSACHUSETTS

S.364: An Act To Establish A Special Commission On Innovative Technology-Enabled Teaching And Learning

Purpose: To establish a special commission on innovative technology-enabled teaching and learning, which would evaluate teacher preparedness for tech-enabled instruction and make recommendations to address inequities in student outcomes.

Status: Reported favorably by committee on July 11, 2022, and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means.

PENNSYLVANIA

S.B.1337: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for student online personal data; imposing penalties; and making editorial changes

Purpose: To strengthen privacy protections for students who use education services technology, more specifically by prohibiting ed-tech providers from selling student data, using collected information to advertise to students and families, or creating student profiles for any non-education purposes.

Status: Referred to Senate committee on Sept. 19, 2022.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

B24-0077: District of Columbia Public Schools Technology Equity Act of 2021 (aka "DCPS Digital Equity Act of 2022")

Purpose: To mandate a comprehensive, multiyear student technology plan, with annual updates, for the District of Columbia Public Schools. It requires DCPS to have a plan to ensure students have the necessary digital literacy skills, access to technology in and out of the classroom, access to IT support and access to the Internet. The bill also requires the district to assess the technology needs of each one of its schools, develop a schedule for refreshing their technology, and design plans for asset management and professional development.

Status: Became public law on Oct. 21, 2022.