The Florida Senate

364.514  Educational Technology Grant Program.--

(1)  The Educational Technology Grant Program is created to support the development of and provide incentives for technologically delivered educational courses and programs.

(2)(a)  The Florida Distance Learning Network shall annually award grants to school districts, area technical centers, community colleges, state universities, and independent institutions eligible to participate in state student assistance programs established in part IV of chapter 240. The board of directors of the corporation shall give priority to cooperative proposals submitted by two or more institutions or delivery systems. The proposals shall include:

1.  Information which describes the educational significance of the program or service in addressing state educational priorities.

2.  The target population for the program.

3.  The program content to be transmitted.

4.  The support services to be provided.

5.  Provisions to use at least 20 percent of any funds awarded for training both faculty and student learners in the use and application of the products developed.

(b)  Programs and courses developed through the grant program shall be marketed statewide and nationwide with a portion of any profits from the sale or use of such programs retained by the developing institutions or systems and a portion reinvested in the grant program for further program development. The distribution of any revenues received shall be determined by formal agreement between the board of directors and the developing institution.

(c)  The board of directors shall identify state educational priorities and issue a request for proposals by June 1 in every year in which funds are available for grants. The board shall ensure the quality of the programs and courses produced through the grants and produce an annual status report by March 1 describing the projects funded and accounting for any proceeds.

History.--s. 31, ch. 95-403.