Carson City K-12 district narrows ‘digital equity gap’ with 1:1 laptop program

In Nevada’s Carson City School District, an initiative that gives each student a laptop is ensuring that all students have the resources they need to have successful educational careers, says the district’s technology integration specialist.

“We are really excited about the opportunities that the technologies are allowing our students to have access to resources that we have never had before,” LeAnn Morris says in a video interview with EdScoop.

The effort, part of Nevada Ready 21, provides students in grades 3 through 12 laptops to use at school and at home, allowing them access to the internet and additional learning materials, Morris says. The initiative is especially important as a way to help close the divide between students who already have access to technology at home and those who don’t, she said.

“With over 50 percent of our students having free and reduced lunch, this really adds a layer to addressing that digital equity gap in providing resources that students may not have at home,” Morris says.

The devices, Morris says, are only one part of the overall Nevada Ready 21 strategy.

“With the technology in the hands of all students grades 3 to 12, now [we’re] looking at what is the best use of enhancing the learning for grades K through 2?” Morris says. “It’s not just about the devices, but also with professional learning and having tech support.”

The pairing of professional and student training with the devices is an important piece to making the project successful, Morris said last year.

Morris on challenges to tech implementation:

Morris on how priorities will shift going forward:

These videos were filmed at the Consortium for School Networking’s annual conference in Portland, Oregon, on April 2, 2019.