Georgia lawmakers will be asked this year to change state law to allow students to B.Y.O.T. -- bring your own technology -- to school.
A committee, comprised largely of lawmakers, voted Wednesday to push legislation that would throw out a series of outdated laws, including one that barred students from using their Smart phones, laptop computers and other high-tech devices during instructional time.
Several school systems -- including Forsyth County in north metro Atlanta -- have received waivers so they can incorporate computing devices that students have at home into their classwork.
The ban on student use of electronic devices during class time was enacted more than a decade ago, when beepers were the craze, officials have said.
The committee also recommended:
-- changing state law to allow the state Board of Education to hold official meetings outside of Atlanta;
-- and eliminating the requirement that school systems spend 65 percent of the money they receive from the state in the classroom.
State Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody, who sponsored legislation creating the 65-percent rule, said there's been no evidence that it has improved student achievement.
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