ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Every traditional high school in Orange County will offer laptops to students at the start of the new school year.
The expansion of the district’s digital program will provide an additional 33,764 computers to 11 high schools, one middle school and one elementary school. The change is expected to cost about $42 million, an expense mainly covered by the half penny sales tax.
“We hear a lot from our parents that the change is harder for them that it is for students,” said Mariel Milano, director of digital curriculum for Orange County schools.
Document: See which schools will get the laptops
Milano said the expansion will make Orange County the first district in Central Florida to provide all of its high school students with laptops.
The district first rolled out the program about three years ago. Currently, students are offered laptops at six elementary, five middle and eight high schools. After the latest expansion is complete, the total number of laptops handed out will total 60,057, according to numbers provided by the district.
The switch to digital will not mean the end of traditional textbooks or paper homework, but both will become limited.
“You need to know how to use email, social media, you need to know how to word process and collaborate online,” said Milano. “Those are now what we think of as basic life skills.”
Students will be responsible for the computers; they can bring their own device but it must meet district standards. The teachers start to receive training about one year in advance to incorporate the laptops into the classroom.
Channel 9’s Michael Lopardi asked if the computers help or hurt learning.
“We've seen significant increases in student attendance, decrease in mobility and decrease in discipline data,” Milano said.
The laptops will have security features to block inappropriate websites and track stolen devices. Milano said the district will also provide safety tips to students for carrying the expensive equipment to and from school.