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FUNDING
Headlines
Pennsylvania's Classrooms for the Future Progressing
Pennsylvania has added 152 school districts to the state's Classrooms for the Future, a program that provides laptops to high schools.
Bryan One-to-One Program Now Expanding to Third Middle School
A successful laptop program at two middle schools in Bryan, TX, has earned the district the chance to extend the program to a third school.
South Dakota Governor Continues Laptop Battle
Governor Mike Rounds has found a way to launch a leaner laptop program after his proposal was rejected by the state legislature.
Scottsdale Plans Hinge on Grant
A one-to-one laptop program is part of a Scottsdale, Arizona, elementary school’s plan to refashion itself as a school focused on science, technology, engineering, math and geography.
Survey Guides Laptop Plans
Students love their laptops, according to a survey from the Eastern Townships School Board in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Pueblo, Colorado, to Equip High Schoolers with Laptops
When school starts next fall, every student in the three high schools of Pueblo Colorado’s Rural District 70 will have a laptop for the school year.
Laptop Pilot Expands in Union City, Michigan
A one-to-one laptop program on Michigan's Lower Peninsula expands from a single grade to six.
Cutting Edge in Carolina
Getting one-to-one to work isn't easy. Here's how one district was able to do it.
South Dakota Governor Seeks to Restore Laptop Budget
Governor Mike Rounds believes that cutting funding in year three of the state’s laptop program would be a serious mistake.
Arizona's First One-to-One Elementary
When Scales Elementary School in Tempe, Arizona, reopens as Scales Technology Academy in the fall, it will be the first one-to-one elementary school in the state.
Seeking Laptops in Spite of a Tight Budget
Funds might be tight in Edgecombe County, NC, but district leaders feel that an investment in one-to-one technology is worth it.
Cody Accelerates Laptop Program
A two-year-old program in this Wyoming district is doubling in size, and finding economies of scale as it does so.
An Iowa District Offers Laptops to Eight Grade Levels at Once
The Central City Schools will provide laptops for all students in grades 5-12 and mobile computer labs for grades K-4
"Netbooks" Piloted in Oregon Classrooms
Two third-grade classes at Buckman Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, are part of a national pilot program that provides each student with a diminutive computer designed especially for education.
Laptops to Replace Textbooks in a Michigan High School
Educators at Manistee High School are hoping to keep up with the times by moving away from textbooks and towards the daily use of computers.
Literacy Program Funds Laptops
More engaged and more active learners, improved scores and behavior, and student-driven classrooms are the results of classroom laptops for students at Holy Ghost Elementary in Dubuque, Iowa.
Technology Rescues At-Risk Middle-Schoolers
Students from Escambia County School District in Pensacola, Florida, recently got the chance of a lifetime – to start afresh in a high tech academy dedicated to academic excellence.
Palm Springs Adds More Training
District leaders in Palm Springs, California, recognize the need for increased professional development.
In Progress, A Laptop Initiative Plugs Along
A North Carolina district considers what’s next for its three-year-old, one-to-one initiative.
Existing Tech Funds Buy Thin Clients
Here's a look at how one district put computers in the hands of individual students without raising per-pupil costs.
Louisiana Begins Laptop Pilots
As part of the launch of a new statewide one-to-one initiative, 3,530 Louisiana sixth-graders recently received laptop computers.
New Ohio Elementary School Gets Thin Client Laptops
Students at Heritage Hill Elementary, a new public school in a low-income community outside Cincinnatti, will participate in an at-school, one-to-one program with thin-client laptops.
Laptops Assist Test-Taking
Indiana nursing students have access to laptops for computerized testing, thanks to a grant from AT&T.
IB Charter School Plans Include Laptops
A South Carolina charter school, still in the planning stages, aims to help at risk, low-income students excel with help from laptop computers.
School one-to-one computing costs profiled
How are cash-strapped districts approaching the pros and cons of funding laptop programs? A recent article in the Medill Report summarizes differing views and approaches.
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FUNDING

It is well known that one-to-one computing makes a real difference in student learning. Many states and districts struggle with ways to fund their programs. There are solutions out there that work.

Creating Options & Finding Resources…

  • Schools must determine the total cost of ownership when considering a one-to one program to include laptop acquisition, maintenance and security.
  • Some schools set aside a percentage of operational budgets to fund one-to-one initiatives.
  • Textbook and technology funds may have some overlap now that some textbook companies offer software and online curriculum.
  • Community bonds and initiatives have been successful in locations such as Irving ISD, Texas. Educate parents and community members about the positive effects of such measures.
  • Research or create special funds and foundations such as Achieve 121 to help fund your program.
  • Volunteer to participate in appropriate university research projects.
  • Look for deals that provide technical assistance at lower costs — consider student support as an option.
  • Consider instating nominal student fees, particularly to aid with lease programs or in the case of outright purchase.
  • Vendors may find it beneficial to partner on projects to gain experience and recognition.
  • Explore grant opportunities.
  • Maximize resources in your existing budget to create cost efficiencies. Consider consolidated procurement practices.
  • Investigate E-Rate funding.
  • Explore zero or low-interest loans. Spend part of the loan amount on technology and invest the remainder to gain financial return.

 Methods for Computer Acquisition…

  • Purchase – most beneficial when ongoing funding is uncertain. This approach does not easily allow for upgrades or replacement strategies.
  • Lease Program – lease machines for two to five years.
  • Lease/Purchase – some installment financing available. Some companies support upgrades over the life of the lease.
  • Individual/Family Purchase – contracts can be negotiated per state or district. Grant money or foundation funds can offer assistance.
  • District Implementation – special bond appropriation within the operating budget or community bond approval.

Providing Insurance Protection…

Insure machines for loss, theft and accidental damage. Train students and parents in care, handling and security to minimize risks.

The stoptheft.com program has a unique identification program to assist in recovering misplaced or stolen equipment.

Restrict students from using unapproved software or visiting inappropriate Web sites. Appropriate and approved tools should be outlined in an acceptable use policy.


Funding eBook
Learn how pioneering districts and schools are funding their one-to-one visions.
Check out Techlearning.com's Grant Guru column for tips on budgeting, planning and funding.



The financial investment of one-to-one computing underscores the need to protect equipment. Some schools limit computers to on-campus usage. While this approach does limit risks, it also limits potential benefits. One-to-one achieves maximum results when computers are available for use anywhere and anytime to maximize learning potential and opportunity. An alternative to limiting usage is to provide an insurance package.

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