Section 16.993. Technology for educational achievement in Wisconsin; departmental duties.

  The department shall do all of the following:

(1)  In cooperation with school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, the technical college system board, and the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, promote the efficient, cost-effective procurement, installation, and maintenance of educational technology by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts, and the University of Wisconsin System.

(2)  Identify the best methods of providing preservice and in-service training for teachers related to educational technology.

(3)  Enter into cooperative purchasing agreements under s. 16.73 (1) under which participating school districts and cooperative educational service agencies may contract for their professional employees to receive training concerning the effective use of educational technology.

(4)  In cooperation with the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the technical college system board, the department of public instruction and other entities, support the development of courses for the instruction of professional employees who are licensed by the state superintendent of public instruction concerning the effective use of educational technology.

(5)  Provide telecommunications access to educational agencies under the program established under s. 16.997 .

(6)  No later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, submit a biennial report concerning the department's activities under this subchapter to the governor, and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) .

(7)  Purchase educational technology materials, supplies, equipment, and contractual services for school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts, the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison under s. 16.72 (8) , and establish standards and specifications for purchases of educational technology hardware and software by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts, and the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

(8)  Purchase educational technology equipment for use by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, and public educational institutions in this state and permit the districts, agencies, and institutions to purchase or lease the equipment, with an option to purchase the equipment at a later date. This subsection does not require the purchase or lease of any educational technology equipment from the department.

(10)  Coordinate an annual conference on educational technology, hosted by the governor, for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educators and establish a schedule of fees for attending the conference, which fees may not exceed the actual costs incurred in conducting the conference. All fees collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (4) (hc) .

1997 a. 27 , 237 ; 1999 a. 9 ; 2001 a. 16 , 104 ; 2003 a. 33 ss. 238pm , 1053d to 1063 ; Stats. 2003 s. 16.993; 2005 a. 25 ; 2011 a. 32 ; 2013 a. 20 ss. 2365m , 9448 ; 2013 a. 168 s. 21 .