Virginia Launches Pilot Replacing Textbooks With iPads

Virginia's Daily Press (9/30, Shalash) reports that students in two classes at Menchville High and An Achievable Dream High schools in Newport News, Virginia, will use "iPads loaded with a digital curriculum created by Pearson," instead of textbooks. The switch is part of a statewide "pilot program launched" on Wednesday called "Beyond Textbooks." With the iPads, "students will be able to customize lesson text by writing in the margins, bookmarking and highlighting in the digital books." In the coming weeks, "teachers will be trained how to use the devices...and students will begin using the content in late October through mid-November." The 40 digital devices worth $499 each "were paid for through a grant from Gov. Bob McDonnell's Productivity Investment Fund," the Daily Press adds.