Michael's family received the computer equipment as part of a test of home connections to LemonLINK, the computer network that has been transforming Lemon Grove classrooms. About 300 families have free equipment giving them home access, including pilot families and struggling students who use it boost their skills after school. Starting this summer, the home connection will be available to students' families throughout the 4,600-student district. The district expects to hook up about 2,000 homes in the next couple of years. Many would not otherwise be able to afford the technology, let alone the extensive educational resources.
Research shows kids in such circumstances tend to have less access to technology.
LemonLINK home connections could help erase that difference. The district plans to act as a partner with community groups to help families who can't afford those costs. The setup looks like a typical computer with Windows, but it has no hard drive and all information entered and the software it uses are stored on the district network. The district filters the Internet sites available and allows those logged onto the systems to e-mail only other students and district staff. Although districts typically aren't permitted to sell such equipment, the state has granted Lemon Grove a waiver.