[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 86 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1258-E1259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         LEARNING WITH LAPTOPS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FLOYD SPENCE

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 1998

  Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, as the academic year comes to a close across 
our country, I rise to bring to the attention of the House the 
``Learning With Laptops'' program, which is conducted by the Beaufort 
County School District in South Carolina. This impressive program makes 
it possible for sixth and seventh grade students to combine learning 
and technology by using laptop computers for classwork and homework. 
The Beaufort County School District is the largest public school system 
in the United States to participate in this innovative partnership with 
Microsoft and Toshiba. The pilot program was initiated during the 1996-
1997 academic year, in which 330 sixth grade students were provided 
with laptop computers. In the 1997-1998 academic year, the program 
expanded to involve 1,325 sixth and seventh grade students, and it is 
anticipated that when the schools open in Beaufort County for the 1998-
1999 academic year, that more than 2,000 sixth and seventh graders will 
be using laptop computers in most of their classes.
  The ``Learning With Laptops'' program is based on a public/private 
partnership. The SchoolBook Foundation, a nonprofit organization, was 
formed to lease and subsidize the laptop computers for students. 
Through subsidies, all students are able to participate in the program, 
regardless of their financial circumstances. In fact, the majority of 
students who are participating in the program qualify for free or 
reduced price lunches.
  Through the ``Learning With Laptops'' program, an enthusiasm about 
exploring new areas inside and outside of the classroom has been 
created. I have visited a classroom of the H.E. McCracken Middle 
School, where students demonstrated their skills and ingenuity in using 
laptop computers, and I was impressed with their ability to utilize 
this technology so effectively. By integrating laptop computers into 
the learning process through this model program the Beaufort County 
School District is leading our Nation into a new dimension of 
educational achievement.
  Earlier this month, the ``Learning With Laptops'' program was 
highlighted among our country's technology innovators at a special 
symposium that was sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution. I would 
like to commend the Beaufort County School District on its efforts to 
put its motto of ``Innovation Toward Excellence'' into practice with 
such an outstanding program.

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