We've written recently about the trend of giving public school students tablet computers, such as the iPad mini, as a way of facilitating their education and enabling teachers to deliver more engaging lesson plans. But these efforts aren't limited solely to tablets, as the Kansas City Public School District is rolling out a new program that will see 17,000 students receive laptops to use for homework and in the classroom.

This is part of a larger effort to supply children in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area with the technology necessary to succeed in the 21st century. The Liberty School District, which serves areas around Kansas City, will be giving new MacBook Air laptops to its high school students.

"This is directly related to learning," Eric Nelis, principal of Carver Dual Language School, told local affiliate KSHB-TV. "They will have a new tool at their disposal the laptop, everything will be in the laptop. The textbook is in the laptop."

Tablets and customized laptops are seen as a cost-effective way of delivering learning materials to students. Textbooks can be stored in electronic formats and assignments can be submitted using education apps. Additionally, children are given an opportunity to familiarize themselves with piece of technology that may not be available at home.

If you're the administrator of an educational institution and you're looking for more ways to integrate technology into the classroom, we recommend checking out the government and institutional sales services at PortableOne. We can supply your school with the tools necessary to help students succeed in the digital economy and workplace.