Lexington City school board in Lexington, North Carolina, is considering using a $895,804 federal grant to launch a laptop initiative for the 2011-2012 school year, the Dispatch recently reported.
The grant was awarded as part of the federal government's Race to the Top program, which is designed to provide schools with funding for innovative educational programs.
According to the news provider, the laptop plan is being coordinated by Nathan Craver, who presented the idea to the school board on March 1. Craver told the board the use of computers in the classroom will help boost student achievement and provide students with tools to increase their problem solving skills.
The goal of the initiative is to provide ninth-grade students with laptops by fall 2011 and eighth graders by spring 2012.
Many schools that have received funding from the Race to the Top program have used the money to invest in new technology, such as laptops, document cameras and classroom projectors.
The Race to the Top program was established by the U.S. Department of Education and is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In his 2011 budget request, President Obama requested $1.35 billion for the program.
