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Apple Scores $30 Million iPad Contract from L.A. Unified School District [Updated]
Though Microsoft has been making a strong push to disrupt Apple's foothold in the education market by offering K–12 schools its Surface tablets at the low price of $199, its pricing incentives didn't have an effect on the Los Angeles Unified School District, reports AllThingsD.
On Tuesday night, the school board voted to spend $30 million on Apple iPads, which will see the company equipping every student in 47 of the district's schools with a tablet.
The deal, which was approved in a 6–0 vote by the district's school board, will see Apple supplying about 35,000 iPads to 47 LAUSD schools at a cost of about $678 per device. That's higher than retail, but I'm told the devices are to be preloaded with an assortment of educational software prior to distribution — an additional expense. They also come with a three-year warranty.According to the LA Times, the district did test runs with multiple devices and the iPad "received the highest scoring by the students and the teachers." Winning a contract with the Los Angeles Unified School District is a major boon for Apple, as the district is the second largest school system in the United States and could influence other districts to follow in its footsteps.
Apple has long had a heavy focus on the educational market, which ramped up with the introduction of the iPad in 2010. Apple offers discounts across its product lineup for students and earlier this year, it was reported that the company had sold more than 8 million iPads to educational institutions around the world.
In February, Apple also met with the Turkish President to further discuss another huge educational deal that would see the country purchasing more than $4.5 billion worth of Apple products.
Update: Apple has issued a press release about the deal with the LA Unified School District.
"Education is in Apple's DNA and we're thrilled to work with Los Angeles Unified public schools on this major initiative as they plan to roll out iPads to every student across 47 campuses this fall," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Schools around the world have embraced the engaging and interactive quality of iPad with nearly 10 million iPads already in schools today."
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82 months ago
I'm surprised that they can afford paper let alone iPads with the fiscal shape they are in. I wonder if Apple took an IOU :D.
82 months ago
How does that work? Are iPads loaned out to kids like textbooks?
Yep. Some schools allow the children to take them home. Other schools only allow the iPads to stay in the classroom.
I think the later is better. Too much risk in being robbed/assaulted if you allow kids to take these home.
82 months ago
Now I really enjoy the 3 year warranty and the preloaded software. As the fake IT guy in my school, this would save me a fair bit of work. Going to forward this story to my bosses and get them to make the switch from HP minis to this. Far more useful.
82 months ago
What a stupid waste of money. When Public Schools are struggling to keep teachers and are always under the gun for money. THIS is what they spend it on?
Do you know how much school districts spend on textbooks? Do some research for you spread your FUD.
82 months ago
If I had one of these when I was a kid.....
You still wouldn't have done your work and just played Angry Birds.
82 months ago
Waste of Money!
What a stupid waste of money. When Public Schools are struggling to keep teachers and are always under the gun for money. THIS is what they spend it on?
What a stupid waste of money. When Public Schools are struggling to keep teachers and are always under the gun for money. THIS is what they spend it on?
82 months ago
Amazing this forum is filled with so many luddites and such arrogant ignorance. This budget and the way they spend it is up to the school board (who is answerable to the people of their districts). We know nothing of the objectives of this programme, or metrics, the ROI, none of that, yet so many here feel compelled to comment on something they know absolutely nothing about.
Personally, I think it's great, I think every child in the world should have access to technology like this, not only because it's the future (i.e. technology), but also and/or more so because it can be a different way to engage with children and teach them. More tools to teach with, great.
Rather than decrying the decision of this one district, how about putting that much energy into ensuring that every district can do the same thing? Wouldn't that be a better use of all that passion some here seem to have?!
Or, I guess it's easier to be an armchair school commissioner, passing judgment on every little partial piece of information that passes by??
Personally, I think it's great, I think every child in the world should have access to technology like this, not only because it's the future (i.e. technology), but also and/or more so because it can be a different way to engage with children and teach them. More tools to teach with, great.
Rather than decrying the decision of this one district, how about putting that much energy into ensuring that every district can do the same thing? Wouldn't that be a better use of all that passion some here seem to have?!
Or, I guess it's easier to be an armchair school commissioner, passing judgment on every little partial piece of information that passes by??
82 months ago
You do realize DROPBOX is Blocked in most properly run networks because of pirating/torrenting through it and firewall avoidance?
OK, drop DropBox and replace with GoodReader.
Or Google drive.
Or MS SkyDrive.
Its status quo people like you that hinder our kids.
Break the system, think of new ways to make the system work.
and more important
TRY
----------
They can accept Apple's prices or take their books elsewhere. Having to spend $15/student/year isn't much different from spending $100/student/5 years - the difference is the book belongs to the student, not the school. This means the student will have an ever growing library of every book they ever needed in school. Tax payers won't balk because the price is the same, and because their children get to keep their books in addition to their notes between school years for looking back on.
As a student in college, I've had enough of this BS. I last bought a textbook from the traditional system a year ago. I've found a variety of ways of getting what I need for free or super cheap since (IE, visiting the teacher - who gets free copies of the books from the publisher - and scanning copies of the pages I need.)
Completely agree.
Text book publishers can sell lessons piecemeal!
When was the last time a student used the ENTIRE book??
Sell each chapter for $1~2.
Schools and students save becuase they use what they need.
Publishers still make a tidy profit without being vilified.
Stop thinking inside the box, ye nay sayers!!
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