Section 5. Regional Computer Resource Centers.
(a) Purpose.--The purposes of each Regional Computer Resource Center are to increase teacher expertise relating to computer information technology and to assist local school districts within the region to acquire, utilize and upgrade computer hardware and software. To this end, it will:
(1) Provide teacher training.
(2) Help design computer oriented curricula.
(3) Assist with the evaluation of software.
(4) Review and evaluate proposals for upgrading computer and computer oriented instruction.
(5) Coordinate purchase of computer hardware and software.
(6) Loan computer hardware and software to nonpublic school students.
The agency or Regional Computer Resource Centers may contract with intermediate units to provide the above services.
(b) Regional Computer Resource Center Board.--
(1) The Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency shall appoint five persons to be members of each Regional Computer Resource Center Board of Directors. The persons appointed shall represent five broad areas: computer technology, teacher education, computer education, elementary education and secondary education. No less than two members of the Regional Computer Resource Center Board shall be classroom teachers or building principals.
(2) It shall be the duty of the regional board to receive grant applications from school districts. Such applications shall include plans for upgrading computer education through two related and coordinated actions: teacher training and computer hardware and software acquisition and utilization.
(3) Grant applications from school districts for teacher training in computer education, computer hardware acquisition and computer software acquisition shall be received by the regional board. After reviewing applications, the regional board shall forward each application with their comments to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
(5 reenacted and amended Dec. 22, 1993, P.L.557, No.80)