Two-thirds of Idaho High Schools Sign Up for First Round of Laptop Rollout

More than two-thirds of high schools across Idaho want to be in the first round of schools to receive laptops for the statewide one-to-one initiative.

Under the Students Come First laws that passed last year, the state will implement a one-to-one ratio of students and teachers to laptops in every high school within the next five years to ensure every student has equal access to educational opportunities.

Superintendent Luna updated legislators on how the state will deploy mobile computing devices statewide in his presentation to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) this morning.

All high school teachers and principals will receive these devices in September 2012. The statewide Technology Task Force recommended the state deploy devices to one-third of schools across Idaho per year, rather than one-third of students statewide to ensure the implementation is successful.

The laptops are the first step in implementing a one-to-one ratio of students and teachers to mobile computing devices in every high school across the state.

Teachers will receive devices in September 2012. The state will begin deploying devices to high school students in September 2013.

Based on a recommendation from the Technology Task Force, the State Department of Education will deploy devices to one-third – or about 27,000 – high students statewide, beginning in 2013.

The Department has asked districts to submit letters of interest if they would like to be in the first one-third of schools to receive devices statewide.

To date, the Department has received letters of interest from 73 districts and charter schools, representing 139 schools and more than 57,000 students statewide. This represents two-thirds of high school students across Idaho.

Districts and public charter schools still have until February 17 to submit letters of interest. More information is online at http://www.studentscomefirst.org/mobiledevices.