The first state to join the Partnership for 21 st Century skills, North Carolina has demonstrated a strong commitment to using technology for a 21 st Century Education. One way they have done so is through laptop programs in a number of districts.

This fall, 1,300 students at Wilson County’s Hunt High School were issued laptop computers -- the largest installation in the state so far. The local television news station saw this as a fitting occasion to profile the local investment. Smiling talk about how pleased they are with the learning that comes with instant feedback—in this case, chemistry quizzes. Teachers discuss the process of learning to move lessons away from paper. And for the concerned public, the profile mentions that teachers can monitor every laptop, so nobody is going to be surfing MySpace.

The school’s laptop program shares a total of $3 million in funding with other schools in the state. The money comes from local software company SAS, the Golden Leaf Foundation, and state funds. SAS is providing part of the equipment and training required. The Golden Leaf Foundation, which assists economically-distressed and tobacco-dependent communities with economic development projects as part of a settlement agreement with cigarette manufacturers, donated $1,613,300 to the Wilson County Public Schools

According to Richard Holder, Chair of Golden LEAF's Board of Directors, "Hunt High School is located in a predominantly agricultural community that is still recovering from the changes in the tobacco industry. The need to improve the technology available to students and teachers, especially in rural areas, is critical.”

A second Golden Leaf grant for $1,408,750 will provide laptop computers to more than 1,200 students at five Learn and Earn Tech Ready high schools across North Carolina. Every student in these six high schools, regardless of their family's financial situation, will have a laptop.

Sources : News 14 Carolina, School’s Laptop Program Continues; Carolina Newswire, Golden LEAF Gives $3 Million to School Computer Projects