Microsoft's High-Tech High in Philadelphia is a $63 million project. As CBS News relates, "textbooks and blackboards are out...there aren't even books in the library, everything is done on laptops. Even the lockers are automated - opened with the swipe of a smartcard.” It provides an integrated curriculum without separate classes for topics like math or science.
Paul Vallas, CEO of Philadelphia Schools is quoted as saying, “In those schools where we've introduced technology into the classrooms in such a way, the children are better behaved, the attendance is much better and the children are doing better academically.”
They also report that it is estimated that this high tech school will be cheaper to operate as the book budgets go to laptops. But then what about printing costs?
There is an exit exam of sorts — in order to graduate, they have to apply to college. This is certainly better than the MCAS that our state requires.
Thanks to Mike Koffman for pointing this out.
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