2. This initiative is to replace all textbooks and handout laptops to all incoming 9 th grade students 4 year plan to totally incorporate laptops Money saved on paper consumption and textbooks can be used for staff training

3. Laptop students spend more time engaging in collaborative work than non-laptop students. Laptop students participate in more project-based instruction. Laptops lead to more student writing and to writing of higher quality Laptops increase access to information and improve research analysis skills Laptop students become collaborators (interact with each other about their work) Laptop students direct their own learning Laptop students report a greater reliance on active learning strategies Laptop students readily engage in problem solving and critical thinking Laptop students consistently show deeper and more flexible uses of technology Laptop students spend more time doing homework on computers

5. **The cost difference of $8350.00 would be allocated for teacher and staff training dates.

6. As educators we have a responsibility to “prepare students for 21 st century living.” (Wilson, 2004). This responsibility can be fulfilled by considering this initiative and the benefits that our students will receive from its implementation.