Oct. 29--Henrico County schools' laptop initiative has been "unusually successful," according to a new report that will come up at tomorrow's School Board meeting.

The three-year-study is believed to be the most comprehensive look yet at widespread use of laptops in a public school system.

"The nation is watching," said Dale Mann, managing director of Interactive Inc., which conducted the study.

Henrico's laptop initiative began in 2001, providing laptops to each middleand high-school student in county schools. The county spends about $8 million a year on the program.

"The question is not whether laptops can help a class full of kids," Mann said. "It is whether it can help a whole division of kids."

According to the report, it has.

The report says that laptop use is associated with higher test scores in biology, history, chemistry, reading and Earth science.

Scores in algebra and writing did not show gains. The report explains that classes use graphing calculators instead of computers in algebra and that the SOL writing test is not taken on computers.

Teachers have increased their professional use of the laptops each year, Mann said. The most notable gain was in the ability to access individual student performance.

Educators also noticed, however, that laptops did not make any difference in student attendance, behavior, responsibility or desire to learn.

In the study, students said they learn more, get better grades and tend to turn in assignments on time because of the laptops.

The study was part of the county's lease agreement with Dell Computers. More than 1,800 students and 700 teachers were surveyed and followed over the three-year period.

In several months, the county will open the bid process for the next contract to provide laptops to high school students.

Parents and community members will have the opportunity to comment at the three meetings next week. They will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 3 at Deep Run High School, Nov. 5 at Freeman High School and Nov. 6 at Highland Springs High School.

Contact Lisa Crutchfield at (804) 649-6362 or lcrutchfield@timesdispatch.com.

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