The district's two-year-old refresh program was developed to bring all its schools onto a level playing field within 10 years.

The district has set the standard at one computer for every eight students per school and a laptop for every new teacher.

The refresh program also intends to replace 25 percent of each school's computers that are four years and older every year.

Schools with no or few computers were given the option of replacing them or receiving up to 50 percent of their allotted computers in the first year of the program.

"The idea behind the program is to make technology upgrades and replacements an ongoing process," Paul Rische, district director of technology, said.

Along with replacing the computers, the district requires any computer purchase to come with a four-year warranty.

This uniformity would reduce long-term maintenance and repair problems, Rische said. Flexibility with software versions reduces the need to purchase updates for the schools.

Apple Computers account executive Randy Phelps said the district is the first in the nation to have a four-year license for Mac Operating Systems, as well as iLife with Apple Computers. This enables the district to receive free updates for the initial programs purchased over the four years.

"The district's refresh program has been pretty revolutionary," Phelps said.

In order to receive new computers, each school has to provide the district annually with a detailed technology plan.

During the first year of the program, the district distributed 980 staff laptop computers. The following year 552 student computers were issued, and 543 staff computers were replaced.

Funding for the program comes from the Bond Measure F Technology Fund. The measure allotted $2 million annually for the replacement of technology at each school site.

"The idea is to create a process that provides ongoing technology upgrades without being dependent on 'one time' money," Rische said.

Derek Moore, tech support for Willow Glen Elementary, said the school would receive 19 computers from the district through the refresh program in the next month.

Teachers have praised the program since it began two years ago.

"New laptops for all new teachers allow them to take things home and take notes at meetings," said Sally Waltz, technology consultant at Booksin Elementary. "The district has helped improve how teachers can teach their classes through up-to-date technology, particularly with their web-based classes."

The computer lab, which has been part of Booksin for more than 17 years, had been running with machines up to 10 years old.

Through the refresh program and school fundraisers, the majority of Booksin's computers are no more than four years old.

The success of this pilot program has lead to other districts nationwide expressing interest, Phelps said.

"Nowadays, I get 50 to 60 phone calls and emails from teachers who are moving on to another district or moving out of the state asking me to talk to other districts about this program," he said. "It's been really successful. You see the benefits this program contains through the kids."