State provides technology to schools in need

State provides technology to schools in need

One of the most extraordinary programs assisted by the Washington State Department of Information Services (DIS) is Computers 4 Kids (C4K) -- a program that, to date, has distributed more than 39,000 free computers to Washington schools. The majority of these computers have been contributed by DIS.

The donated computers are state-owned, surplus computers and computer-related equipment. The computers and other equipment are only available to public K-12 schools in Washington.

The program fills a critical niche as many schools lack the financial resources to update technology - and outdated technology can have dismal consequences for a student's computer proficiency, future educational opportunities, and future employment. Recent statistics report that, on average, only one in four Washington children has access to a PC at school.

Since 1999, four state agencies -- the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Department of Corrections, DIS, and the Department of General Administration -- have built the C4K program and routed late-model computers into the state school system.

In the early years of this program, the availability of surplus computers in the state's inventory was random at best.

However, through the efforts of DIS, the C4K program has had a steady source of computers for the last five years. This perpetual supply is comprised of computers that have completed their formal service period in the popular DIS leasing program. Through the leasing program, state agencies can lease desktop and laptop technology from DIS for periods of three to four years. Once the leasing period is over, the depreciated computers have plenty of use left for the classroom. As DIS leases are for 75 percent of the life of the equipment, schools are not receiving old, obsolete equipment.

DIS works in cooperation with OSPI to identify schools and school districts in need of computers.

Requests for C4K allocations are received and processed by OSPI.

For more information about Computers 4 Kids, call Todd Hattori at 360-725-4201, or via email at toddh@dis.wa.gov.