22.1-212.2:3 - Family Involvement in Technology (FIT) program - Virginia Statutes

§ 22.1-212.2:3. Family Involvement in Technology (FIT) program.

A. In order to (i) promote parental and family involvement in children'seducation, (ii) found a partnership between families and schools, (iii)increase students' time on task, (iv) integrate educational technology intothe public school curriculum to meet the Standards of Learning objectives,and (v) increase access to educational technology, particularly in schoolswith large populations of disadvantaged children, there is herebyestablished, with such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, aSuperintendents' Districts grants program, to be known as the FamilyInvolvement in Technology (FIT) program.

B. The Board of Education shall establish the Family Involvement inTechnology program in each of the eight Superintendents' Districts.Therefore, eight grants, one grant to each District, shall be awarded, uponappropriation of funds, to provide at least 100 computers per District on thecondition that each project focus, to the extent feasible, on increasingeducational technology in schools having at least a 75 percent population ofdisadvantaged children. Each District shall be responsible for determininghow the computers are distributed and the components of the FIT program inthe region, so long as such components are consistent with the provisions ofthis section.

The FIT program shall include (i) measurable goals and objectives; (ii) anassessment of the needs of the students to be included in the project; (iii)assurances that the project will increase access to educational technology inschools with large populations of disadvantaged children; (iv) training ofthe relevant teachers, students, and families in computer technology,including, but not limited to, the appropriate supervision of children whileengaged in using computers and researching on the Internet; (v) theestablishment, if feasible, of an interactive network between the schooladministration, the relevant teachers, and the relevant students' homes; (vi)better integration of educational technology into the school curriculum;(vii) activities to promote awareness of the project, increase access toeducational technology in schools having large populations of disadvantagedchildren, and continually assess the school-community needs; (viii)collaboration with available public and private resources, including anyeducational technology corporation; and (ix) improved communications betweenparents, teachers, and administrators which are designed to improve students'academic achievement.

C. The Board shall evaluate and determine, in cooperation with theSuperintendents' Districts and based upon objective criteria, the success ofthe program. In accordance with this analysis, the Board shall make, withinone year of implementation of this provision, such recommendations as itdeems appropriate, to the Governor and the General Assembly, for the FITprogram, which may include continuation of the program in its original form,phasing out of the program, termination or revision of the program at a datecertain, or extension of the program to other schools.

D. For purposes of this section, "schools having at least a 75 percentpopulation of disadvantaged children" means those local education programsqualifying for funds pursuant to the federal Elementary and SecondaryEducation Act of 1965, as amended, and the Improving America's School Act of1994, Title I-Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards (P. L.103-382 (1994)).

(1999, c. 456.)