While some states have responded to the financial crisis by sharply curtailing their technology investments, districts throughout the state of North Carolina continue to find ways to pursue one-to-one technology initiatives.

The North Carolina 1:1 Laptop Initiative—a partnership between Golden Leaf Foundation, SAS, Inc, the North Carolina New Schools Project, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and the NC Department of Public Instruction—has helped place laptop computers in the hands of all students and teachers in the following high-need high schools:

• Davidson Early College High School, Lexington (Davidson County)
• Edgecombe Early College High School, Tarboro (Edgecombe County)
• Macon Early College High School, Franklin (Macon County)
• Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School, Rocky Mount (Nash County)
• Rutherford Early College High School, Spindale (Rutherford County)
• SandHoke Early College High School, Raeford (Hoke County)
• Wayne Early College High School, Goldsboro (Wayne County)
• Hunt High School, Wilson (Wilson County)

Additional districts—such as the Thomasville City Schools and the Asheboro City Schools, both of which recently distributed laptops to all their high school students—have tapped into other state grants to support their efforts.

One North Carolina model that the state board of education points to as an example of the benefits of 1:1 computing is the Mooresville Graded School District, in the Charlotte area, which is now in its third year of a one-to-one laptop programOfficials report higher test scores and a lower dropout rate as a result of the program. Since the computers were first introduced in Mooresville, end of curriculum test scores in English, algebra, history and physical science have increased between 8 and 70 percent and the dropout rate has fallen 36 percent. In 2010, Mooresville had the highest four-year graduation rate in the Charlotte area with 86 percent.

According to reporters at the local WSOC TV station:

Teachers said the computers are also changing the way they approach instruction. In English teacher April Davala's classroom, old textbooks are stacked unused in the back of the room. Three thick literature books are used to prop up a computer projector so students can see what she's typing.

"I'm actually teaching less, and I'm learning more," she said.

During a recent lesson on William Shakespeare, she said students were able to use a variety of tools—including online videos and maps—to learn about the time period. "We can take a virtual field trip to the Globe Theater," she said. "We can link up, using Skype, and talk with other classes in England."

Davala also liked that she no longer has to print dozens of copies of handouts or take home piles of papers to grade. All of it can now be done using computer programs, and parents have access to report cards and student projects online.

Mooresville administrators say that the program costs approximately $200 per student per year. According to superintendent Mark Edwards, that's a small price to pay given the improvements in test scores and attendance rates. "It's an investment in every student we have," he said.

Sources: Technology push continues with laptop initiative, Lexington Times Dispatch, Support the 1:1 Technology Initiative, Triangle Community Foundation web site, and Mooresville School Handing Out Laptops Without Breaking Budget, WSOC TV