In planning for a new technology or expanding an existing one, there are two aspects of budgeting to be considered: the initial costs and ongoing funding to support the program over time.

INITIAL INVESTMENT

There is little doubt that launching a one-to-one laptop program or other major technology initiative requires initial funding that goes beyond the usual cost of equipping classrooms for a new school year. Fortunately, these initial costs can often be covered by special-purpose funding such as:

Foundation Grants: There are numerous foundation grants available to school districts or school sites that apply for them. Millions of dollars are available—some of which is given on a one-time basis, while other grants are renewable on an annual basis depending on the results of the implementation. There are many foundations in the private sector that allocate funds to schools willing to take the steps to bring in innovative learning environments that will develop students to be successful workers in the 21st century.

Community Bonds and Allocations: Local bond issues have been successful in locations such as Irving ISD in Texas, where parents and community members have been confident about the positive effects such measures can have for students and the economy.

Statewide Pilots and Seed Funding: Although recent financial woes have made it difficult for many states to launch new technology initiatives, some states are continuing to support ambitious 21stcentury initiatives. One example is the state of Maine, whose pioneering one-to-one middle school laptop program, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, has recently begun expanding to high schools. The funding is more limited than that available to the middle schools that were involved in phase one of the program but the state has been involved in negotiating affordable lease prices and providing infrastructure and professional development.

It is worth noting that the adoption of a 21stcentury learning environment—and all of the tools it entails—is not solely a capital investment. While it may seem like bringing in a huge quantity of computers and software applications would fall into the capital portion of a budget, other relevant budget categories include textbooks/instructional materials, curriculum development, technology funding and facilities upgrades. Spreading out the costs, instead of lumping them into one category of the budget, can make a huge difference to the success of funding a technology initiative.

ONGOING COSTS AND COST SAVINGS

When considering a one-to-one implementation or other major technology initiative, schools must determine the total cost of ownership (TCO). Examples of ongoing expenditures include hardware maintenance and replacement, subscription fees for premium online content, and the cost of professional development. Schools that are involved in an ambitious technology initiative should expect to set aside a percentage of their annual operational budgets to support it. Possible sources of support for ongoing initiatives include:

Grants: In addition to funding initial investments, a number of foundations are willing to provide ongoing support for programs that have proven themselves worthy.

Discounts: Whether through the federal eRate program or partnerships with local service providers, schools can often receive discounts on online services and technical support.

Support From Local Organizations: Many companies, higher education institutions, and civic organizations recognize the value of supporting local schools in their efforts to provide today's students with 21st-century skills. Hardware donations and programs that place volunteers in the schools to provide technical support and education to students and teachers are two examples of ways that local organizations can help schools while reaping both tax and PR benefits.

Community Partnerships: Many districts have recognized major benefits and cost savings by working with local leaders on mutually beneficial initiatives such as Wide Area Networks that serve both the schools and other parts of the community.

Family Contributions: Most one-to-one initiatives today charge a nominal fee to families that are signing out computers for 24/7 use. These fees typically cover insurance or other costs related to computer maintenance. To ensure equity, most of these districts will waive such fees for families who cannot afford them.

In addition to looking for innovative and realistic approaches to TCO budgeting, it is important to look for the ways in which the innovative use of technology can actually save a district money. The long-term effects of one-to-one adoption, for example, can bring many parts of an annual budget down after year one. Now that states are loosening restrictions on textbook purchases, some districts are using funding formerly used for traditional print content to pay for less expensive online curriculum and other digital content. In another example, communications costs can be drastically reduced as schools begin corresponding with families through the one-to-one technology in use by their children.