SB287 Summary

• Amends the Alabama Ahead Act to expand participation to include the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, and Alabama School of Fine Arts in the electronic textbook and digital learning initiative.

• Appropriates $41,297,782 from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to the State Department of Education for fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, distributed to local school systems on an equal per-student basis for participating schools with sufficient wireless infrastructure and teacher professional development plans.

• Appropriates an additional $15,089,140 from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to public institutions of higher education for equipment and/or deferred maintenance during fiscal year ending September 30, 2017.

• Creates the Alabama Ahead Oversight Committee consisting of legislative leaders, State Department of Education officials, and appointed members with expertise in instructional technology and network design to evaluate applications and oversee program implementation.

• Authorizes the Department of Education to adopt rules for full implementation and requires participating systems to submit applications detailing wireless broadband access, infrastructure upgrades, and digital device provisions.