Henrico County Public Schools in Virginia
The Future is Now...Our Children Can't Wait • March 26-28, 2003
Henrico County Public Schools, located in Richmond, VA, is a microcosm of America. 43,500 students attend 63 schools, including 8 high schools, 10 middle schools, 34 elementary schools.
The school system is embarking on the second phase of its Teaching and Learning Laptop Initiative, which is providing a laptop to each middle school student and staff member. This deployment, the largest in the history of public education (23,000 laptops), is closing the digital divide while providing meaningful instruction and improving academic performance. Last year, all high school students and teachers were given an Apple iBook laptop computer for use at school and at home, and eventually, plans are to continue this initiative into the elementary schools. A low-cost internet service provider was also contracted for students and families who did not have internet access at home. It has been said that "pioneers take the first arrows" and it is no doubt we have faced challenges.
Henrico takes seriously the responsibility of providing all students with a quality education and we absolutely believe that this effort will ultimately provide huge dividends for students as they enter the 21st century workplace that is becoming more technology dependent.