Duval County offers students refurbished laptops

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Pencils and notebooks are being replaced by tablets and other technology in the classroom that may be out of reach to some local families.

Duval County has a program that aims to narrow that technology gap.

Laptops that have been in the school system for four to five years are being stripped, refreshed and prepared for the new Duval County Laptop Recovery Program.

The program offers students refurbished computers for $50.

“It's a very good idea," elementary student Emily Clapp said. "I would just be excited because I've never had electronic that big.”

Students are permitted to buy one laptop per school year.

Duval County Public Schools leaders started it to give more students access to technology at home.

“We know that we’re equipping our students during the school day with technology, but why not fill that gap,” Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti said.

Local moms tell Action News Jax the program will help short term for kids doing homework and long term to help them prepare for the future.

“As they want to get into college and everything, they're going to need to have that,” Jennifer Michie, a mother of three, said. “So I think that's wonderful.”

The first batch in the program includes 500 laptops.

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