1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education finance; creating a pilot program to provide a SMART 
1.3 	Board in school districts throughout the state; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. SMART BOARD PILOT PROGRAM.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Eligibility. Any school district or charter school may apply to the 
1.7 	Department of Education for schools to participate in the SMART Board pilot program as 
1.8 	a pilot site. The Department of Education shall develop criteria to evaluate school districts 
1.9 	and charter schools that are most able to act as pilot sites to demonstrate the educational 
1.10 	advantages of SMART Board technology.
1.11 		Subd. 2.Grants. The Department of Education shall award grants to schools to the 
1.12 	SMART Board technology pilot sites. Grants must be awarded to recipients in amounts 
1.13 	sufficient to ensure SMART Board technology can be installed and operated in every 
1.14 	classroom at each pilot site. The Department of Education shall award SMART Board 
1.15 	pilot sites to ensure an equal geographic representation throughout the state.
1.16 		Subd. 3.Public-private funding. The Department of Education shall develop a 
1.17 	process to receive private sector gifts and bequests on behalf of the SMART Board pilot 
1.18 	program.
1.19 		Subd. 4.Evaluation. The Department of Education must report to the education 
1.20 	committees of the Minnesota house of representatives and senate by January 15, 2009, on 
1.21 	the ability of the SMART Board technology to advance student achievement.

1.22 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.
 2.1 		Subdivision 1.Department. The sum indicated in this section is appropriated from 
2.2 	the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year designated.
2.3 		Subd. 2.SMART Boards. For creating a grant program under section 1 to provide 
2.4 	SMART Boards in schools throughout the state.

2.5		$
	10,000,000
	.....
	2008
	
2.6 	A school district that receives a grant under this appropriation must reserve ten 
2.7 	percent of its grant for staff development purposes.
2.8 	This is a onetime appropriation.