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2008 SESSION

085673676
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 176
Offered January 9, 2008
Prefiled January 9, 2008
Directing the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to study opportunities to implement open education resources in the Commonwealth's K-12 public schools. Report.
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Patron-- Peace
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, technology and technology-related businesses are a significant part of the Commonwealth's infrastructure and economy to the extent that Virginia is called the "Digital Dominion"; and

WHEREAS, over the last 10 years, public and private technology-related businesses have made huge investments to deliver integrated digital video, phone, and information services developed for the marketplace; and

WHEREAS, technology projects in Virginia have included the statewide Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) data network, Next Generation Internet2 efforts, and Lambda Rail, which may be employed to support alternative formats in education to assist public K-12 schools in remaining on the cutting edge of technological advances and providing the most current tools for all students in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth's data management systems already exist and can provide curriculum content in a sound educational framework for students; and

WHEREAS, today's marketplace is information-based, and maximizing the use of technology is essential to our economic security and competitiveness in the world market; and

WHEREAS, although school board textbook adoption committees are encouraged to communicate clearly with publisher representatives about textbook pricing concerns and options, and school boards exercise the authority to select textbooks and supplemental instructional materials with the goal of providing high quality education, and although institutions of higher education select course textbooks in accordance with the principles of academic freedom, school boards and institutions of higher education should be encouraged to select alternatively formatted curricula, textbooks, and course materials that minimize costs to school divisions and students; and

WHEREAS, Virginia educates over one million students each year, and textbook costs average $100 per student, and while digital course supplements may help to reduce the cost of textbooks to students, school divisions must consider delivery mechanisms that follow federal fair use and copyright guidelines and that are in the creative commons or held in the public domain; and

WHEREAS, the utilization of open education content resources, also known as "common license copyright" or "print-on-demand technology," could potentially result in savings in textbook costs during the first year of usage to cover the costs of developing a comprehensive and Virginia-approved online curriculum consistent with the Standards of Learning; and

WHEREAS, school boards align curricula and select textbooks in accordance with the Standards of Learning, and open education content resources can facilitate easy updates of curricula and instructional materials, minimize the need to discard expensive textbooks, equip students with requisite skills to help them secure their future and become valuable and productive citizens, and expose students to and deliver dynamic learning experiences through revolutionary and innovative technology at a savings to the taxpayer; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Commission on Technology and Science be directed to study opportunities to implement open education resources in the Commonwealth's K-12 public schools.

In conducting its study, the Joint Commission on Technology and Science shall (i) evaluate opportunities to incentivise local school divisions to use open education resources, creative commons materials, and public domain texts; (ii) identify policies and legislation that would facilitate the use and sharing of educational materials developed by teachers in local school divisions across the Commonwealth; (iii) identify information technology barriers to greater implementation of open education resources and computer-based learning; and (iv) consider such other related issues as the joint commission deems appropriate.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Commission on Technology and Science by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Joint Commission on Technology and Science for this study, upon request.

The Joint Commission on Technology and Science shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2008, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Joint Commission on Technology and Science intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.