INFORMATIONAL LETTER  #43

POLICY CODE:  IHAJ

 

 

TO:                 Superintendents, Principals, School Board Chairs, State

Board of Education, and College Deans

 

FROM:            J. Duke Albanese, Commissioner

 

DATE:              February 5, 2001

 

SUBJECT:            Final Report of the Task Force on the Maine Learning Technology Endowment

(MLTE)

 

            The Task Force on the Maine Learning Technology Endowment (MLTE) presented its final report and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs on January 31, 2001.  The full text of the report can be viewed on the Department of Education web site (http://www.maine.gov/legis/opla/MLTErpt.PDF) Below is a bulleted summary of the Task Force recommendations:

 

MAINE LEARNING TECHNOLOGY ENDOWMENT (MLTE) RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

            The following recommendations were approved by a unanimous vote of Task Force members:

 

• STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE:  A twelve member Learning Technology Advisory Board appointed jointly by the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House be created.  A plan be developed by the Commissioner of Education in collaboration with the Advisory Board which will be presented annually to the State Board of Education, then to the Governor, and subsequently to the Legislature.
• FINANCES AND INVESTMENT:  The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services will act as the fiduciary and fiscal agent for the Endowment.  The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services will consult with the Commissioner of Education to develop a detailed fundraising plan, with appropriate guidelines, to anticipate funding needs associated with the MLTE plan.
• PROGRAM:  The goal of the MLTE is to ensure a necessary level of access to technology, the Internet, and training and learning opportunities for all Maine public schools, students, and teachers at the middle school (Phase I) and high school (Phase II) levels by:

 

• providing portable, wireless, computer devices with functional software for every student and teacher at the 7^th and 8th grade levels;
• providing basic research content and databases;
• providing Alternative Equivalent Value (AEV) options to local school administrative units that meet the standards and parameters of the MLTE Program;
• providing technology for teachers and professional development (same learning technology as their students);
• providing external and internal networks and technical support (Maine School Library Network and Internet Service Providers);
• providing for the replacement costs of devices, servers, and other equipment used by the MLTE Program; and
• providing criteria for the evaluation of the program’s effectiveness.

 

o       INVESTMENT AND CASH FLOW SCENARIOS:  The Phase I plan, as recommended by the Task Force, is achievable within the $50 million endowment.  By analyzing variables that affect investment strategies, it is hoped that adequate funds will be available to launch a Phase II (Grades 9-12).  Additional fundraising and grants from third-party sources would be necessary to support the Phase II expansion to the high school grades.

 

NEXT STEP:  LEGISLATIVE CONSIDERATION OF THE PLAN

 

            The legislation creating the Task Force on the Maine Learning Technology Endowment authorized the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs of the 120^th Legislature to report out any legislation necessary to implement these recommendations.  The Task Force has proposed draft legislation to the Committee for that purpose.

 

The Department of Education will be updating you as the proposal moves through the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs and the full Maine Legislature.

 

JDA:kpl