Bill > LD569

This bill establishes a program to support and encourage the use of online learning resources, including open educational resources (OER) and open-source textbooks, which are free and openly licensed educational materials. The Commissioner of Education will develop a program offering technical assistance, professional development, and training for educators on digital literacy and the effective use of these online resources. This initiative includes creating a clearinghouse, a central repository of information and best practices for online learning. A dedicated "Digital Literacy Fund" will be established to support these efforts, receiving both public and private funds. The bill also amends existing law to include professional development and training in the use of OER and open-source textbooks within the "learning through technology" program, which provides one-to-one wireless computers to students and educators. The Commissioner is required to report on the progress of this technical assistance program by January 15, 2012, with the program to be available to school administrative units starting in the 2012-2013 school year.