Urban Students Cross the Digital Divide through Laptop Leasing Program

Project Overview Community School District (CSD) 10 is the largest school district in New York City and second largest to Buffalo, New York, with a population of 42,000 students, 87% of whom live at or below the poverty level. Our students represent 108 countries and speak 75 languages: 66% are Latino, 21% African-American, and 11% white and Asian. Beyond the school, students in our community have little access to computer technology because their families have limited resources to afford the basic needs for their children. Computers are a luxury that most are forced to do without. Students without basic technological skills are already being left behind as future candidates for success in tomorrow's work environment and global economies. [In addition, the lack of education resources preclude automatic access to technology making real world experiences accessible to the teaching and learning process.] The notion that two to four computers in a classroom can adequately satisfy this demand for knowledge and practice is overstated. If students are expected to access, analyze and use data in all curriculum study areas on a daily basis, it is essential that each student in any given classroom setting be equipped with the necessary technology. District 10's MAC at Home Program, enables students and their families to have affordable access to technology in their homes. The District believes this pilot project is a valuable model for all urban schools. The leasing contract agreement, which was created for this project is unique: lease payments are split in half between the school district (50%) and the home (50%). At the end of a 36-month leasing term, the student can own the laptop at a cost of $1.00. Project Objectives The project was conceived to support the work in three of the District's most neediest schools that were undergoing a redesign process. One hundred thirty-four (134) students in grades five, six and seven were drawn from these three schools as the members of the pilot group. Our goals in developing and promoting this program included: * increase student's time on task and extend learning into the home, beyond the traditional school day. * develop literacy skills through reading, writing and Internet based research and to provide access to the school environment 24 hours per day, 7 days per week 365 days a year. Students able to add just 30 minutes a day to their instruction time will have added an extra six weeks of learning time per year. In addition, the District saw this as an opportunity to use the power of technology as a tool to enhance communication between the home and school environment through E-mail and access to the District and school web sites. Schools chosen also had an identified need to increase parent involvement in the community. As an outgrowth of the program, parents were offered professional development to increase their knowledge base and develop increased job skills through learning to use technology applications such as word processing, database and spreadsheet development and Internet navigation. Recruitment and Buy-In The District began this project as a pilot with three of its redesigned middle schools, M.S. 390, M.S. 391 and M.S. 399. Initial recruitment efforts by the District were conducted to ensure participation from parents and teachers on a voluntary basis, an asset that would prove central to the success of the program. In the spring of 2000, orientation meetings with school administration, teachers and parents were conducted at each school both during the school day and in the evening in order to gain support for the program. Teachers were recruited on a volunteer basis and were provided with 30 hours of after-school professional development on how to integrate technology into the curriculum. A parent contract agreement was developed outlining their costs and responsibilities. The leasing agreement provided several components: a 36-month plan, the I-Book and carrying case, an airport card for wireless connection in school, essential for creating classroom environments, an extended 2-year warranty on parts and labor, and full insurance coverage against damage and theft since students would be carrying their laptops both to and from school daily. …