Maine closing technology gap for students thanks to former Gov. Angus King

The former governor of Maine who created the nation’s only statewide program to give laptop computers to public school students is continuing his personal crusade to close Maine’s digital divide by offering free home Internet access to low-income students.

Former Gov. Angus King (I), who left office in 2002, raised $850,000 in private funds this summer – including $100,000 from his own pocket – to create the nonprofit Maine Learning Technology Foundation to offer the free Internet access for the first time this school year.

The initiative builds on the state’s four-year, $37-million program that has provided laptop computers to all seventh- and eighth-graders since 2002. The free home Internet connection will be offered to families of students in the laptop program who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches.

Maine’s cutting-edge laptop program has generated positive reviews from educators, converted many critics and sparked a national trend toward personal computing in the classroom. Yet despite the support of King’s successor, Democratic Gov. John Baldacci, state funding for the program could end this year.

"Over the past three years I think we’ve erased any question that providing one-on-one computer access is a powerful education tool," King said. "However, some of our students have not had the opportunity to continue their learning outside of school because they lacked access to the Internet at home, and this puts them at a disadvantage."

By Kavan Peterson, Stateline.org Staff Writer

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