Students at 20 Nevada middle schools can expect to get free new laptops next school year.
The Nevada Department of Education announced a list of schools this week that won competitive grants and will be participating in the Nevada Ready 21 initiative that state lawmakers approved last spring.
The state is contracting with Oregon-based computer manufacturer CTL to provide students heavy-duty Chromebooks with a Google operating system.
Students can keep the laptops as long as they're attending the participating school.
Other money that's part of the $22 million, two-year initiative will go to train teachers on how to incorporate technology into the classroom and to get schools' broadband access up to speed.
The initiative aims to prepare students for a technology-intensive career world.
ONLINE: Nevada Ready 21: http://www.doe.nv.gov/Legislative/Nevada_Ready_21/
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