|
May 15, 2001
Laptop Lessons: Exploring the Promise of One-to-One Computing (cont'd)
Money Matters
Once you have your vision and plan in place, the next step is following through with the nitty-gritty details and challenges of implementation. The first hurdle is money. Keeping in mind that costs typically range from $1,300 for entry-level portables to up to $2,000 for wireless-ready laptops, there are two big-picture questions districts should consider. First, how will you finance the laptops-in what increments and over what period of time? Second, who will ultimately pay the bill: the district, families, or some combination of the two?
| Learn more about financing laptops. |
At the Clovis Unified School District outside of Fresno, Calif., which has mixed socioeconomic demographics, parents are encouraged to buy the laptops. In addition to holding Laptop Parent Information Nights, the district answers parents' frequently asked questions on its Web site. The district also makes a guarantee to parents that if they purchase the laptop, their child will be put into an "immersion class" that integrates the computer into the daily curriculum. To ensure equal access, the district complements family-owned laptops with district-owned laptops students can use at school and at home for the entire year.
But what about communities where most families can't afford to pay? At Community School District Six in New York City, where 94 percent of its 30,000 students live at or below the poverty level, school officials have pioneered a leasing model that combines contributions from parents and the district. Families pay a monthly $35 copayment that covers half of the $70 lease payment-the district pays the other half through Title I funding.
An increasing number of districts are working to establish education foundations to provide funding for laptop programs. The Beaufort County, S.C., community, with the help of Microsoft and Toshiba, has created the nonprofit SchoolBook Foundation to help cover the cost of lease payments for families who qualify. Their long-term goal is to reduce family payments to $35 a month. More information at Beaufort's foundation.
Protecting the Equipment > > >
Read other articles from the May issue
Send a letter to the Editor in response to this article.
|
