Pioneering Moves

• In 1998, Boston became the first urban school district to have all the classrooms connected to the Internet. Since then, improvements have included an increase in the availability of computers and other modern teaching aids. Of particular note is the milestone of a 4:1 student to computer ratio, reached in 2001. To maintain this ratio, BPS introduced the L4L (Laptops for Learning) program in 2008. Under this program, teachers in Boston public schools were issued with MacBook laptops for use in classroom instruction.
  
  

Innovative Moves

• To make technological advances meaningful for both students and the rest of the community, the Technology Goes Home Program was introduced in 2000. Created to bridge the digital divide in the district, the program continues to train families in the use of computers and by 2010 had graduated 3,000 families.
  
  

Teacher and Student Support

• One body created to monitor the effective use of technology in Boston's public schools is the Office of Instructional Technology (OIT) which is mandated to ensure that teachers and students get the support they need to make innovative and effective use of technology. Through this office, various forums have been created to offer follow-up support in the form of email communication, study groups, phone support and site visits. Moreover, working in conjunction with the Access Technology Center (ACT), OIT helps both regular students and those with special needs. Some of the achievements by these bodies include the development of special programs to aid in the teaching of English and mathematics.
  
  

Improving Affordability

• Several programs have been undertaken by the BPS to make computers available at affordable prices. To achieve this, BPS works with corporate partners to provide refurbished computers to institutions. Under the Computer Life Cycle Model, BPS establishes benchmarks for the life cycle of computers used in the public schools. In 2012, BPS will roll out phase III of this life cycle model which requires that all computers used in public schools have a life cycle of five years.