The Smart Schools Bond Act was passed in the 2014-15 Enacted Budget and approved by the voters in a statewide referendum held during the 2014 General Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2014. The Smart Schools Bond Act (SSBA) authorized the issuance of $2 billion of general obligation bonds to finance improved educational technology and infrastructure to improve learning and opportunity for students throughout the State.
The Act requires that each Smart Schools Investment Plan (SSIP) be thoroughly reviewed and approved by SED (updated 4/2025) prior to a district bidding, contracting or expending any SSBA funds. Not doing so will result in such costs not being eligible for reimbursement with SSBA funds.
UPDATE 4/20/2024: To expedite future approval of Smart Schools Investment Plans, the Executive Budget shifts responsibility for plan approvals from the Smart Schools Review Board to an administrative process overseen by SED.
NOTE: Each school or district must comply with all of the Assurances listed below. Further, the district or school must maintain for audit purposes a detailed accounting of expenditures, supported by invoices, bills or purchase orders. SED is not currently approving plans that include facial recognition technology or other similar self-learning analytic software. Prior to approval, all districts with any expenditures in High-Tech Security are required to submit an updated Statement of Assurances and confirmation that there is no facial recognition or similar technology included in the plan.
