The Technology Access Foundation (TAF) Academy near Tacoma, Washington, opened on September 8. This one-to-one program, which started with 128 students in three classrooms equipped not only with wireless technology but SMART boards and other 21st century tools, is the brainchild of former Microsoft executive Trish Dziko.
With encouragement from Federal Way superintendent Tom Murphy, Dziko started the nonprofit Technology Access Foundation and its academy. The foundation is providing $1 million per year, including $7,000 per student. That’s in addition to the state’s basic education funding of $5,035 per student in the Federal Way district.
TAF Academy is focused on science, technology, engineering and math and designed to reach students underrepresented in those fields – including girls, African-Americans and Latinos. Fifty-five percent of the academy’s students are on the federal free and reduced-price lunch program. Laptops are used in school, but they do not go home. Eight teachers lead classes with no more than 25 students each, project-based learning is central, and students are given significant input.
“It’s not just a technology school,” explains Principal Laura Davis Brown. “When you allow kids to be active participants in their education, their expectations go way up.”
Former Microsoft executive Trish
Her earlier attempt to bring the concept to a school in the Seattle school district faltered under community disapproval, and contacted her to express their openness to the idea.
TAF Academy is starting with sixth, seventh and ninth grades. It plans to add one grade a year and eventually enroll 525 students in the sixth through 12th grades.

Source: Tacoma News Tribune, A laptop for every student, by Steve Maynard