Section 15-1504-A - Higher education funding(a) The department and the Office of Administration shall establish management teams to provide direction and oversight and to distribute funds appropriated for the researching, planning and development of the Pennsylvania Education Network which can include when appropriate, but not be limited to, the following focus areas: (1) Documenting public and private technology resources, including, but not limited to, existing telecommunications networks, video conferencing capabilities and distance education courses and identifying technology transfer opportunities that can be leveraged for the Pennsylvania Education Network.(2) Establishing technology grants to develop educational content and implement Pennsylvania Education Network strategies and connectivity by using competing technologies and methodologies. (i) Funds for grants shall be distributed through an application at such time and in such form as the Secretary of Education may require.(ii) Applicants may include public and private institutions of higher education, community education councils, not-for-profit organizations in Pennsylvania and any other entity approved by the Department of Education.(iii) Priority shall be given to applications consisting of partnerships.(3) Implementing a shared Statewide vision and strategic plan for building the Pennsylvania Education Network.(4) Developing methods and resources to ensure educators are able to use the technology effectively with the curriculum.(5) Implementing a web-based application that makes all articulation agreements among higher education institutions available on the Internet.(b) The management teams shall be comprised of representatives from State-owned institutions, State-related institutions, community colleges and independent institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania, intermediate units, community education councils and representatives from other public and not-for-profit organizations in Pennsylvania.(c) Project managers will be nominated by the institutions in subsection (b). Prospective project managers shall be reviewed and selected jointly by the department and the Office of Administration.(d) Each management team shall be responsible for defining the scope of work, goals, objectives, task assignment and budget for its respective focus area. Funds for management teams shall be distributed through an application to the Office of Administration and the department, to be approved through a joint review process.(e) Each team manager shall report to and shall be held accountable by the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Administration or their designee, the form and manner to be determined by the Secretary of Education.1949, March 10, P.L. 30, No. 14, art. XV-A, § 1504-A, added 1996, July 11, P.L. 633, No. 107, § 4, imd. effective. Amended 1997, June 25, P.L. 297, No. 30, § 9, effective 7/1/1997; 1998 , Apr. 27, P.L. 270, No. 46, § 9, effective 7/1/1998; 2000, May 10, P.L. 44, No. 16, § 8, effective 7/1/2000.