Section 2. Purpose.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) It is in the best interest of the Commonwealth to improve and strengthen computer education in its elementary and secondary schools by:
(i) Coordinating the activities of the Regional Computer Resource Centers with the existing Science Teachers Education Program administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
(ii) Encouraging orderly planning for the use of microcomputers and for the application of microcomputers to the instructional programs of elementary and secondary schools.
(iii) Improving teacher training in computer education.
(iv) Encouraging the acquisition of computer hardware.
(v) Assisting in the acquisition of appropriate computer software.
(2) All areas of the Commonwealth shall have available a Regional Computer Resource Center to assist school districts in developing the computer skills of their students and teachers and to ensure availability of computer equipment, training and programs.
(3) There shall be at least eight centers throughout the Commonwealth, each of which shall be established at sites reflecting considerations of demography.
(4) Funding shall be made available to the centers from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
(5) The initial priority of this act shall be to equalize the development of computer skills of students and teachers among the school districts.
(6) This program is designed as a four-year program.
(2 reenacted Dec. 22, 1993, P.L.557, No.80)