The Lambton Kent District School Board plans to give every seventh grader an iPad for at least one more year as part of their Technology Enriched Learning Plan.
The program could be scrapped after next year because of a $300,000-$400,000 Ministry of Education grant cut, but Director of Eduction Jim Costello says most parents hope that's not the case.
"Parents told us they like the equity aspect of the project," he says. "Every student receives the same device which really helps level the playing field in terms of socioeconomic factors."
A recent online survey of about 800 people also showed strong support for the learning plan.
The project costs roughly $500,000-$700,000 every year, so Costello says they'll have to pull money from other funds, but he says it's worth the price.
"Without question we've seen an increase in student engagement and time on task during class," he says. "But also what we really see is that students are allowed to complete some of their work at home in the evenings. So it increases and leverages their time that they're able to use the device to complete homework."
The board is making up for the cuts by reducing the computer replacement budget which covers things like laptops, smart boards and other devices. They'll also be asking the province for funding and speaking with parents about ways to move forward.
The program, which was introduced nearly five years ago, ensures that every student in the board gets an iPad from Grade 7 to 10.