MoCo Schools to Buy 40,000 Laptops, Tablets

Montgomery County Public Schools plans to spend about $15 million to buy 40,000 laptops and tablets for use in classrooms as part of the system’s Strategic Technology Plan.

“Our community has been asking MCPS to make more technology available in the classroom, and I am excited to begin ramping up our efforts to provide students with 21st century learning spaces,” said Superintendent of Schools Joshua P. Starr in a public announcement. “This technology initiative will enhance teaching and learning and provide our educators with the tools they need to engage students and individualize instruction to meet their needs.”

According to the public announcement, the new technology will be used for students in grades 3, 5 and 6, plus high school students in social studies classes this year. In the following years, the initiative will expand to other classrooms too. Students in grades 3-12 will primarily use Chromebook laptops; students in kindergarten through second grade will use Android-based tablets.

Students and teachers will use Google Apps as a platform for a selection of tools, web-based communication and collaboration applications. MCPS is currently working with Google to create a secure web environment for students that complies with MCPS privacy standards and federal regulations.

MCPS will spend about $15 million on the new technology through funding from the Fiscal Year 2015 Operating Budget, six-year Capital Improvements Program and Federal Education Rate program.

The Strategic Technology Plan will be presented to the Board of Education Tuesday with hopes of authorization to make the purchases.

The initiative hopes to provide “anywhere, anytime access” to tools and resources for students and staff, according to the public announcement.

“This initiative represents the next big step in our effort to infuse more technology in the classroom,” Starr said. “We know that this technology, in the hands of a well-trained, highly motivated teacher, can make a huge difference in how we are preparing our students to thrive in their future.”

For more information on the Strategic Technology Plan, check out the video on the website.