Maine: A MacBook for each student in grades 7-12
The state's Department of Education commits to providing a notebook to every public-school student from middle school to high school, purchasing tens of thousands of the Apple laptops.
Maine is extending an existing Apple notebook purchase program to high-school students.
Apple has been working with the state since 2002 to provide middle school students with notebook computers. With the expansion, Maine becomes the only U.S. state that has committed to providing a notebook to every public-school student from 7th to 12th grade.
To fulfill its commitment, the Maine Department of Education has ordered more than 64,000 MacBooks for students and faculty, with an additional 7,000 that will be ordered in the coming weeks.
Maine Education Commissioner Sue Gendron said the state has seen benefits in using the Apple notebooks in the middle schools; it wants to see those same benefits for high-school students.
"We have seen incredible success, with our middle schools showing increased student engagement and achievement with (Maine Learning Technology Initiative) in place, and we want to bring this same opportunity to our high schools," Gendron said in a statement. "This is not just about technology--it's about using the technology to support education."
As part of the program, students will be able to use the MacBooks in school and at home--essentially, they become part of the student's supplies for the year. At the end of the year, the MacBooks must be passed back to the school.
As part of the deal, Apple plans to provide the state with educational software, professional development, repair and replacement, and technical support.