An Act To Create a Digital Content Library for Education
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, there is not currently a digital content library for schools, colleges and universities to access digital educational content aligned to Maine's educational priorities, including assignments, learning resources and content;
Whereas, educational opportunities would be improved through easier access to digital content aligned with Maine's educational priorities;
Whereas, this legislation requires the establishment of an advisory group to design the digital content library and recommend to the Commissioner of Education an implementation plan and timeline in sufficient time for the commissioner to submit a report by January 15, 2016; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA c. 805 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 805
DIGITAL CONTENT LIBRARY FOR EDUCATION
§ 19301. Digital content library
(1) Alignment with the system of learning results established under section 6209;
(2) Development of greater student depth of knowledge or complex reasoning;
(3) Integration of technology;
(4) Relevance to community involvement and employment in the State;
(5) Level of interest to students; and
(6) Quality of instruction;
(1) Cataloguing available content, with information regarding each item of digital educational content or learning resource that includes:
(a) Identification of appropriate grade level;
(b) Subject area;
(c) Brief descriptions, including descriptions of the type of digital educational content or learning resource;
(d) Links to the digital educational content or learning resource; and
(e) Number of instructional hours required to complete the digital educational content or learning resource;
(2) A rating and recommendation system for students and educators to provide feedback on digital educational content and learning resources included in the digital content library;
(3) Tracking use of specific digital educational content or learning resources; and
(4) Accessibility of the digital content library from any device with Internet connectivity.
Sec. 2. Digital content library advisory group. The Commissioner of Education shall convene an advisory group to design the digital content library established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 805. The advisory group must include a representative from the Department of Education, a public school educator in the State and a representative from a statewide educational association or organization. The advisory group shall recommend to the commissioner methods for fulfilling the requirements of Title 20-A, section 19301. In addition, the advisory group shall:
1. Recommend a business model that allows for competitive exchange of digital educational content and learning resources that maintains low costs for schools and rewards authors when their digital educational content and learning resources are accessed through the digital content library; and
2. Establish an implementation plan and timeline for the digital content library.
The recommendations of the advisory group must be included, in written form, in the report by the commissioner to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs required by January 15, 2016 under Title 20-A, section 19301, subsection 7.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.