HP Awards $8.5 Million in Technologyfor Teaching Grants

The 174 kindergarten through 12th grade public schools and 31 two- and four-year colleges and universities across the United States and Puerto Rico which have successful grant-funded projects will have the opportunity to receive additional grants in 2006.

The HP Technology (www.hp.com) for Teaching grant program aims to improve learning in the classroom through innovative uses of technology, while positively impacting student achievement. HP has committed $25 million to the three-year program; more than 400 schools worldwide have received grants since its inception last year.

"Technology has the power to positively transform the learning process for both educators and students," said Bess Stephens, vice president, Philanthropy and Education, HP.

The HP Technology for Teaching grant program is further intended to prepare students for leadership in the competitive, digital workforce and to ignite interest in careers in science, technology and engineering.

"The challenge of incorporating a project-based learning activity has demonstrated that children of all backgrounds have an incredible need and desire to be exposed to technology integration within the classroom environment," said Christine Potter, first-grade teacher at Greenwood Forest Elementary in Houston, Texas, and a 2004 HP Technology for Teaching grant recipient.

HP is awarding $6.2 million in cash and equipment to teams of five teachers at 174 K-12 public schools in the United States and Puerto Rico. Preference was given to schools serving low-income students and projects including a math or science component.

The award package, valued at more than $35,000 for each team, will include five HP Tablet PCs, five HP multimedia projectors, five HP digital cameras, an HP Officejet All-in-One and a $500 stipend per teacher.

In addition, teachers will participate in a professional development program led by HP's partner, the International Society for Technology in Education. The professional development program will include customized learning opportunities, expert mentoring and participation in an online learning community to support teachers' innovative uses of technology.

Grant participants will use the technology in many innovative ways to encourage and develop student learning. Chandlers Elementary School in Russellville, Ky., will use the HP technology to learn and study basic farming operations.

At Capitol High School in Santa Fe, N.M., freshmen students will use HP technology to learn about the connections between math and science through the study of radio astronomy.

HP also is awarding a total of $2.3 million in cash and equipment to 31 two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States and Puerto Rico. The grantees will each receive an award package of HP products and faculty stipend valued at more than $74,000.