§16-16B-1. Short title; electronic textbooks; wireless electronic devices; rules and regulations; implementation plan; advisory committee.
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(a) This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Alabama Ahead Act.
(b) Commencing with the 2012-2013 school year, students in grades 9-12 shall be provided in electronic format to the local boards of education schools which choose to participate in Alabama Ahead, to the extent practicable and obtainable from the publisher, textbooks adopted pursuant to Article 3, commencing with Section 16-36-60, of Chapter 36 of Title 16, and other instructional materials through a phased-in process. Digital textbooks and other instructional materials provided in electronic format shall support the appropriate course or courses of study.
(c) Where feasible, each public ninth grade student and teacher will be provided in lieu of or in addition to hardbound textbooks and other instructional materials, in whole or in part, a pen-enabled: tablet, mobile computer, or other similar wireless electronic device for storing, reading, accessing, exploring, and interacting with digital textbooks and other instructional materials. Each student provided with a pen-enabled: tablet, mobile computer, or other similar wireless electronic device, and his or her parent or legal guardian, is responsible for maintaining the assigned device in good working order throughout the school year and for returning the device to the providing school at the end of the school year.
(d) The following school year, the providing school shall reassign the pen-enabled: tablet, mobile computer, or other similar wireless electronic device to the students in the tenth grade public school system while continuing to provide incoming ninth grade public school students with a pen-enabled: tablet, mobile computer, or other similar wireless electronic device. This process will be repeated in participating school systems to ensure a planned roll-over of devices and continued support.
(e) The Department of Education shall lead, implement, provide oversight, and administer this chapter and shall adopt such rules as necessary in accordance with an implementation plan. This plan shall include, but is not limited to, the following: Minimum specifications for devices; learning management system; maintenance and support requirements of the electronic devices authorized in this chapter; current readiness of participating schools' wireless networks; professional development for teachers; application process for school systems participating.
(f) On or before October 1, 2012, and prior to implementation of this section, the State Department of Education shall provide a copy of the proposed implementation plan to the Chair of the Senate Education Policy Committee and the Chair of the House of Representatives Education Policy Committee.
(g) The State Department of Education shall establish an advisory committee to assist in the implementation of this chapter. The membership of the committee shall include, but not be limited to, the House of Representatives and Senate sponsors of the primary legislation establishing the Alabama Ahead Act, a member of the House of Representatives as appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a member of the Senate as appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(h) The membership shall be inclusive and shall reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.