This past year, Union City, Michigan, ran a $100,000 one-to-one laptop pilot for 100 eighth grade students. The idea, according to district leaders, was to determine the feasibility of involving all middle and high school students in a one-to-one program.

The pilot was deemed a success, and that is exactly what is happening. In the coming school year, all students in grades seven through 12 will receive laptop computers for daily use.

According to the local newspaper:

Because the district held back on purchasing computers in recent years, and because of savings from streamlining instruction, the ambitious expansion will add only $62,000 a year to Union City's technology budget for the next four years, Superintendent Patrick Kreger said.

Kreger said the board's decision came soon after eighth-grade students and teachers had embraced a MacBook pilot program, which kicked off in
February.

"That's kind of the district philosophy: We're moving forward so that technology doesn't have to be a place you go to; it can be wherever you need it," Kreger said.

Kreger said student behavior had improved and missed assignments had declined — in part because the dog-ate-it excuse had been disposed of.

"We live in a digital world," says district technology director, Chris Katz. "Usually, when (students) come to school, they have to leave that digital world. We're trying to bring in the digital tools to tap into their ability in order to give them access to resources that we don't otherwise have here."

According to Kreger and Katz, the most important component of the expansion, is teacher training. Professional development in the weeks before school opens in the fall will focus on integrating the laptops in the classroom.

Source : The BattleCreek Enquirer, Union City schools to provide additional MacBooks by Ryan Holland