(a) The Department of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Educational Technology, shall establish a competitive grant program, within the limit of the bond authorization for purposes of this section, to assist (1) local and regional school districts, (2) regional educational service centers, (3) cooperative arrangements among one or more boards of education, and (4) endowed academies approved pursuant to section 10-34 that are eligible for school building project grants pursuant to chapter 173, to upgrade or install wiring, including electrical wiring, cable or other distribution systems and infrastructure improvements to support telecommunications and other information transmission equipment to be used for educational purposes, provided the department may expend up to two per cent of such bond authorization for such purposes for the Technical Education and Career System.

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(b) Grant applications shall be submitted annually to the Commissioner of Education at such time and on such forms as the commissioner prescribes. In determining whether to award a grant pursuant to this section and in determining the amount of the grant, the commissioner shall consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to, the following factors: (1) The nature, description and systems design of the project; (2) the results of an assessment demonstrating the need for such a project in the community; (3) the degree of planning to use educational technology equipment and hardware, including the extent to which the school buildings will be capable of being linked to other schools, libraries, institutions of higher education and information networks and provision for the training of staff; (4) the extent to which the applicant in the development of a plan, consulted with individuals or businesses which have expertise in technology and information systems; (5) the relative wealth of the applicant; (6) the number of school districts included in the grant application; (7) the size of the school building; and (8) the grades enrolled in the school building.

(c) If the commissioner finds that any grant awarded pursuant to this section is being used for purposes which are not in conformity with the purposes of this section, the commissioner may require repayment of the grant to the state.

(d) Each grantee shall submit, at such time and in such form as the commissioner prescribes, such reports and financial statements as are required by the department.