INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO.  45

 

POLICY CODE:  IHAJ

 

 

 

TO:                  Superintendents of Schools

 

FROM:            J. Duke Albanese, Commissioner

 

DATE:             January 7, 2002

 

RE:                  Contract with Apple Computer

 

 

On December 27, 2001 the DOE consummated an agreement with Apple Computer, Inc. to pursue a multi-year plan to provide a computer to every 7th and 8th grade student and teacher in Maine - the most ambitious program of its type in the nation.   The agreement will ensure that approximately 33,000 students and 3,000 teachers will have access to extraordinary tools for teaching and learning, thus placing Maine at the ‘head of the class’ in terms of its deployment of technology to support instruction.  The schedule for deployment entails preparing 241 school facilities to be ready for powerful wireless computers for 7th grade students and their teachers by the fall of 2002, with both 7th and 8th grades having access by the fall of 2003.

 

Enclosed is a sheet describing the Initiative and the equipment and services that will be provided at no charge to each school.  Also enclosed is an Opt-In Form for you to indicate that the schools under your jurisdiction will participate in this Initiative.  The form describes the responsibilities the school must assume as a participant.  If your school plans to participate, please return a form for each school with 7th and 8th grade students by January 25, 2002 to the DOE.

 

The statute authorizing this Initiative provides that schools have the option of implementing an alternative to the standard option provided through the contract with Apple.  A school can apply to receive the "alternative equivalent value" (AEV) if it can show that its alternative is equivalent to the services that will be received under the standard contract with Apple.  Additional information about AEV and an application form (also due on January 25, 2002) appears at the Initiative's website at www.maine.gov/mlte.  Due to the efficiencies of the statewide contract, we are only able to offer a portion of the value to those schools that opt for AEV.

  

If you have questions about this matter, please contact the MLTI project manager, Joanne Steneck at (207) 624-6777 or by e-mail at joanne.steneck@state.me.us.