Editor's Note

With a busy autumn behind us and winter break rapidly approaching, it's time to celebrate and to relax. To celebrate the successes of the past year and look ahead to new challenges and breakthroughs in the year to come. To relax and reflect upon what's possible when creative educators and information-hungry students come together to create new learning environments supported by powerful technology.

Judy Salpeter, Editor

Is Yours a School of Distinction?

Does your school excel at math and science? Enter the 2008 Intel Schools of Distinction Awards and your school could win $10,000 and more than $100,000 in products and services. Apply before Feb. 14, 2008.

Read about the 2007 winners at the K-12 Blueprint web site.

Listen to Some Great Speakers Today

Check out the new podcasts of great speakers from Intel's ePIC conference. Hear experienced administrators and experts in one-to-one computing talk about building successful partnerships, funding their programs, and advocating for forward-thinking technology implementations.

Take This Month's Quick Poll

Do Vista and Leopard have you excited or miffed? Are you upgrading? Or do you doubt that the newest versions from Microsoft or Apple are ready for prime time? Weigh in today.

Headlines

Irving, Texas, Votes to Continue One-to-One Computing
Voters in Irving recently approved a $250 million school bond election that included money to continue providing laptops to all high school students.

"Me too" in Maine
Laptop envy prompts a rural Maine district to extend its laptop program to high school students.

Evaluation of Illinois laptop program planned at the starting gate
As Southeastern Middle School in Bowen, IL, begins its laptop program, its leaders will be watching to see if students having access to a computer anytime, anywhere, will improve attendance, achievement and later employment.

A North Carolina funding triangle: a foundation, a business and the state
Hunt High School in Wilson County is now the largest high school in the state to issue laptop computers to all of its students.

Sweetwater Seventh Graders Get Laptops
Thanks to wind-energy funds, the Highland district in Sweetwater, Texas, has laptops for seventh grade students and Palm handhelds for fourth graders.

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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