(a) The target per pupil foundation amount includes costs associated with implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future including: (1) Increasing salaries; (2) Additional teachers to provide professional learning and collaborative time for teachers; (3) Career counseling; (4) Behavioral health; (5) Instructional opportunities for students who are college and career ready and those who are not; (6) Maintenance and operation of schools; (7) Supplies and materials for teachers; and (8) Educational technology including digital devices, broadband connectivity, and information technology staff. (b) Schools may use funds provided under this section to provide the programs required under COMAR 13A.04.16.01. (c) (1) County boards of education and schools shall prioritize the purchase of digital devices for using funds under subsection (a)(8) of this section. (2) Additional funds provided in the target per pupil foundation amount for educational technology are intended to supplement and not supplant existing funding provided for educational technology. (3) (i) On or before November 15 each year, each county board shall submit a report to the Department detailing, for the previous fiscal year: 1. The amount spent by the local school system on technology disaggregated by digital devices, connectivity, and information technology staff; and 2. The percentage of students, teachers, and staff with digital devices and adequate connectivity in their homes in accordance with the Federal Communications Commission standards for broadband. (ii) On or before December 15 each year, the Department shall submit to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, a compilation of the reports submitted to the Department under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph. (iii) On or before September 1, 2021, the Department shall establish uniform reporting requirements, including definitions to ensure that consistent and comparable reports are submitted under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.
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