OLPC Chicago/IL Children's Low Cost Laptop Fund

Overview

Click on link here for more detail on this bill: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=5000&GAID=9&SessionID=51&LegID=35963

The Children’s Low-cost Laptop Act, as currently written, would provide up to $100 million for the creation of a low-cost laptop pilot project for elementary schools in Illinois. The bill is moving to the Illinois House of Representatives for debate.

March 6 - Passes Technology Committee

by Larry Langellier

Springfield, Illinois - March 6, 2008

The Illinois House Computer Technology Committee Passed the Children’s Low Cost Laptop Fund, House Bill 5000

MVCC Faculty in Attendance: Larry Langellier, Steve Mastej, and Nancy Woodard

What We Did in Springfield

• Attended the Illinois House’s Computer Technology Committee hearing on the Children’s Low-cost Laptop Act – where we witnessed the bill passing out of committee by a 6-0 vote
• Worked with Ryan Croke, Policy Advisor to Lt. Governor Quinn, to fix a broken screen on an XO Laptop that they had – Ryan did the work and completed the repair in 10 minutes
• Met with Lt. Governor Quinn in his office for about 20 minutes to discuss our ideas on how Moraine Valley (and other community colleges throughout Illinois) would be able to:
  • Train and mentor teachers on how to enhance their teaching strategies if every child in their class had a low-cost laptop
  • Advise schools on how to deploy, support, and maintain the necessary server and network infrastructure
  • Provide publicity and fundraising resources