The Digital High Schools program works. We ve advocated expanding it to grades 4-8 for several years. That gives kids who don t have a computer in the home a chance to have access. Training is key. We will also support efforts to keep libraries and community centers open longer hours, so people have a chance to use them.
Community centers are also key.
Giving a computer novice a Pentium isn t going to get them online. They need training, support and mentoring. Our companies donate a lot of technology, and they have seen brand new computers left in the boxes because no one knew how to use them. Most companies won t donate anything these days without a plan and a training program. K-12 education is one of the State s most critical functions, and California could do a lot better in education technology.