Edina Public Schools of Minnesota is beginning a one-to one pilot program next school year for South View Middle School. It will begin with a group of eighth-grade students who are selected based on class schedule and team assignments. All eighth-grade teachers will receive a laptop.

"The vision of the one-to-one laptop initiative is more than allowing students to have access to learning resources 24/7," said Michael Burke, director of media and technology services. "It is about a paradigm shift in how instruction is delivered from teacher-centered to student-centered."

District goals for the program are to enhance personalized learning, expand learning beyond the classroom, help students develop 21st century skills and improve student scores on MCA science tests.

For the 2010-2011 school year, a second team of eighth-grade students and teachers from Valley View will be added. The district hopes to have fully implemented the one-to-one laptop program for all eighth-graders one-to-one laptop pilot program.

Significantly, the program was approved at the same Board Meeting that approved $2.25 million in budget cuts. Funding for the pilot project will come from money the district would normally use to replace computers in middle school classrooms.

Source: Minnesota Sun, Edina School Board Approves Budget Cuts, by Jason Kroeker