LA Unified School District to Distribute iPads to All 640,000 Students By Late 2014

The LA Unified School District had already announced last month that they have put together an initial $30 million deal with Apple to supply iPads to the district. However, today we get more details of just how many iPads the district will be purchasing.

The district also plans to distribute 31,000 iPads this year among 49 of the 1,124 schools in the district. Then by late 2014, Mark Hovatter, the chief facilities executive for the LAUSD, claims that all 640,000 students will be receiving an iPad.

The most important thing is to try to prepare the kids for the technology they are going to face when they are going to graduate," said Hovatter. "This is phase one, a mix of high school, middle school, and elementary students. We're targeting kids who most likely don't have their own computers or laptops or iPads. Their only exposure to computers now is going to be in their schools.


The first 31,000 will be funded by $30 million from tax payers. The district is still looking for different ways to fund the rest of the initiative.

Apple will provide iPads that include the Pearson Common Core System of Courses delivered via a new app as part of the integrated solution. Apps such as iWork, iLife and iTunes, in addition to a range of educational third-party apps are also included.

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