4. a. There is established within the Department of Education a fund to be known as the “Educational Technology Teacher Training Fund,” hereinafter referred to as the “fund.” The fund shall be used to provide grants to school districts or other applicants as approved by the commissioner to develop and administer educational technology training programs for school district staff. The grants shall be provided for a three-year period after which the technology training program shall be supported on a fee-for-service basis, through private sector-school district partnership funding, or both. During the initial three-year period, the grant funding shall be supplemented on a fee-for-service basis to offset costs which may exceed the grant amount.

b. The fund shall annually be credited with money appropriated by the Legislature, any moneys received from corporate donors or other private sector support, and any federal funds which may become available for teacher technology training.

c. Grants provided from the fund shall be used for the development of accessible training sites; costs associated with educational technology training personnel; the acquisition of equipment necessary for technological training including hardware and software; subscription fees for telecommunications and data base services; and any other purpose approved by the commissioner.

L.1996,c.129,s.4.