66940-66941
EDUCATION CODE
SECTION 66940-66941
66940. There is hereby established the California Distance Learning Policy, which sets forth the guiding goal and principles for the utilization of technology in California postsecondary education. 66941. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that access to a high quality education is the primary goal for the use of educational technology in higher education. All students in California's public schools and colleges and all adults in the state shall have access to educational opportunities for which they are qualified, regardless of their income level, geographic location, or the size of the school they attend. (b) Pursuant to its statutory planning and coordination functions and responsibilities identified in Section 66900, the California Postsecondary Education Commission shall convene an intersegmental working group to determine state funding priorities consistent with the institutional missions of the systems of higher education. (c) The intersegmental working group shall observe all of the following principles to guide the development of priorities and the proposed expenditure of state revenues on technology infrastructure and applications: (1) Development of a statewide infrastructure that provides compatible connectivity between all levels of education to reduce redundancy and increase efficiency. (2) Adherence to nationally and internally accepted protocols and standards. (3) Assurance that the standards for course and program quality applied to distance education are rigorous in meeting accreditation standards, Universal Design Standards, and standards currently applied to traditional classroom instruction at higher educational institutions in the areas of course content, student achievement levels, and coherence of the curriculum. (4) Collaboration between the private sector and educational institutions in the availability and use of technology in high-priority schools and underserved areas. (5) Collaboration across departments, institutions, states, and countries in the use of technology. (6) Use of technology to contain costs, improve student outcomes, and enhance quality in instructional and noninstructional functions, such as student services, libraries, and administrative support. (d) The intersegmental working group shall be composed of representatives from public, elementary and secondary education, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, the University of California, independent accredited universities and colleges, state approved schools and colleges, private sector providers of distance education, the Office of the Secretary of Education, and the private sector. (e) The commission shall facilitate the development of statewide funding priorities for technology in higher education, and shall forward the recommendations of the working group to the Legislature and the Governor on or before August 1, 2002.