Appropriates funds to provide laptop computers for all middle and high public school students.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Access to information and information technology is critical, particularly for school children who must be technologically literate when they leave school in order to successfully compete within a skilled workforce. Students who have acquired the tools and training necessary to use information technology will undoubtedly have an edge over their counterparts who are not technologically savvy. For an island state like Hawaii, information technology can also help students overcome the barriers of geography and limited resources.

Education systems in many states have taken measures to provide students with tools such as laptop computers that can significantly improve the learning environment. For instance, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative provides a laptop computer to every seventh- and eighth-grade student and teacher in the State. Henrico County in Virginia has provided twenty-seven thousand laptop computers to its high school teachers and students, middle school teachers and students, and elementary school teachers.

In 2002, the state of Michigan used state and federal funds to provide laptops for eight thousand six-graders in six school districts, with the intention of going statewide. In January 2004, the state of New Hampshire began a four-year pilot program by giving laptops, wireless connectivity, and training to all seventh-graders and their teachers in six schools.

The purpose of this Act is to provide students with continual access to information and information technology by providing a laptop computer to every middle and high school student attending a public school within the department of education.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $50,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to provide a laptop computer for every middle and high school student attending a public school within the department of education.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.