Page 201

_ 201 Item Details($) Appropriations($) ITEM 125. First Year Second Year First Year Second Year FY2025 FY2026 FY2025 FY2026 c) For purposes of establishing or enhancing a computer-based instructional program supporting the Standards of Learning pursuant to paragraph g. 1) above, these grant funds may be used to purchase handheld multifunctional computing devices that support a broad range of applications and that are controlled by operating systems providing full multimedia support and mobile Internet connectivity. School divisions that elect to use these grant funds to purchase such qualifying handheld devices must continue to meet the on-line testing requirements stated in paragraph g. 1) above. d) School divisions shall be eligible to receive supplemental grants pursuant to paragraph g.5) above. These supplemental grants shall be used in qualifying schools for the purchase of laptops and tablets for ninth grade students reported in fall membership and content creation packages for teachers. Participating school divisions will be required to select a core set of electronic textbooks, applications and online services for productivity, learning management, collaboration, practice, and assessment to be included on all devices. In addition, participating school divisions will assume recurring costs for electronic textbook purchases and maintenance. e) Pursuant to § 15.2-1302, Code of Virginia, and in the event that two or more school divisions became one school division, whether by consolidation of only the school divisions or by consolidation of the local governments, such resulting division shall be provided funding through this program on the basis of having the same number of school divisions as existed prior to September 30, 2000. 7) Local school divisions shall maximize the use of available federal funds, including E- Rate Funds, and to the extent possible, use such funds to supplement the program and meet the goals of this program. e. The Department of Education shall maintain criteria to determine if high schools, middle schools, or elementary schools have the capacity to meet the goals of this initiative. The Department of Education shall be responsible for the project management of this program. f. 1) In the event that, on any scheduled payment date of bonds or notes of the Virginia Public School Authority (VPSA) issued for the purpose described in § 22.1-166.2, Code of Virginia, and not benefiting from the provisions of either § 22.1-168 (iii), (iv) and (v), Code of Virginia, or § 22.1-168.1, Code of Virginia, the available moneys in the Literary Fund are less than the amounts authorized for debt service due on such bonds or notes of the VPSA on such date, there is hereby appropriated to the VPSA from the general fund a sum equal to such deficiency. 2) The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the VPSA shall, on or before November 1 of each year, make and deliver to the Governor and the Secretary of Finance a certificate setting forth his estimate of total debt service during each fiscal year of the biennium on bonds and notes of the VPSA issued and projected to be issued during such biennium pursuant to the resolution referred to in paragraph 1) above. The Governor's budget submission each year shall include provisions for the payment of debt service pursuant to paragraph 1) above. g. Unobligated proceeds of the notes, including investment income derived from the proceeds of the notes may be used to pay interest on, or to decrease principal of the notes or to fund a portion of such other educational technology grants as authorized by the General Assembly. h. 1) For the purposes of § 56-232, Code of Virginia, "Contracts of Telephone Companies with State Government" and for the purposes of § 56-234 "Contracts for Service Rendered by a Telephone Company for the State Government" shall be deemed to include communications lines into public schools which are used for educational technology. The rate structure for such lines shall be negotiated by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Chief Information Officer of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. Further, the Superintendent and Director are authorized to encourage the development of "by-pass" infrastructure in localities where it fails to obtain competitive prices or prices consistent with the best rates obtained in other parts of the state. 2) The State Corporation Commission, in its consideration of the discount for services