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A Texas school district is trying to close its digital divide by distributing thousands of Apple tablet computers in a move that could make it the largest iPads program for students in the United States. McAllen Independent School District, in the southern part of the state, began distributing 6,800 devices this week - mostly the iPad tablet computers, but also hundreds of iPod Touch devices for its youngest students. By this time next year, the district says, every one of its more than 25,000 students from kindergarten to 12th grade will receive an iPad or iPod Touch. The district believes it's the largest to try for complete coverage and while Apple would not confirm that, other districts the company noted as having made large investments have not made ones as big as McAllen's. Educational use of the tablet computers is so new that there's little evidence available on their impact. Superintendent James Ponce said the district wanted to change the classroom culture, making it more interactive and creative and decided Apple's devices - even at $500 retail for an iPad2 - were the best investment. The district's typical classroom is outfitted with three computers for students and one for the teacher. Going forward, those technology investments will be supplanted by the iPads. For now, McAllen's iPads don't carry its textbooks, but eventually they will and at much lower cost than the hard copies that can cost $200 apiece. | 
