School technology experts today showed the Alabama Board of Education a plan to bring the use of wireless devices to every classroom in the state.
The plan includes legislation for a $50 million bond issue that would cover the costs.
It's an updated version of a plan the Legislature passed three years ago but has not implemented.
School systems would apply for a share of the money to install wireless networks that would allow students and teachers to use tablets, laptops and and other wireless devices in the classroom.
Once school systems have the networks in place, they could use the money to purchase the tablets and devices if needed.
Students in some school systems, including Huntsville, Hoover and Piedmont, already use wireless devices.
But many schools lack the infrastructure to effectively use them. Installation of the networks has to be the first step, officials said.
The Alabama Educational Technology Association, which has 300 members, including technology coordinators from public school systems across the state, gave the presentation to the school board today.
An AETA survey found that about 90 percent of public schools in the state need upgrades to their wireless networks. Ninety-three of the state's 137 systems responded to the survey.
The plan calls for schools to install high-capacity networks, capable of supporting the use of 30-40 wireless devices per classroom.
Officials said it's better to bring wireless capability into classrooms than to rely on students rotating through a single computer lab at a school.
State Superintendent Tommy Bice praised the plan, calling it "one of the most thoughtful, accountable plans I've ever seen put together."
State Rep. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, who attended today's meeting, plans to sponsor a bill in the House of Representatives to implement the plan.
Chesteen, a former teacher and football coach at Geneva County High School, said the plan would promote education parity, allowing students in less prosperous systems to use technology they could not otherwise afford.
In 2012, the Legislature passed the Alabama Ahead Act, which called for the state to sell up to $100 million in bonds to purchase tablets and devices for digital textbooks and creating an advisory committee to implement the plan. But the bonds have not been sold, and lawmakers have debated revisions to the plan.
Sens. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville and Jim McClendon, R-Springville, have sponsored legislation the last two years to revise the Alabama Ahead Act, including to make installation of the wireless networks a priority. But the bills have not passed.
The two senators have also pre-filed a bill for the legislative session that starts March 3.
McClendon sponsored the Alabama Ahead Act in 2012 when he was a House member.
The AETA worked to refine the plan set out in the Alabama Ahead Act by coming up with a cost model for wireless networks.
Association members said today it's important that the state make sure the networks that school systems install are high quality and high capacity.
They want those standards included in the legislation or as part of the application process for school systems seeking the money.
"We feel like we've put a pretty good, accurate number on the cost at $50 million," said Susan Poling, technology coordinator for Shelby County Schools.