The third round of the Education Technology K-12 Voucher Program will give $188.4 million for 8,000 California public schools and districts to share, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced on Tuesday.
The voucher program was originally set up through a 2003 antitrust settlement between Microsoft and California businesses. The first two rounds, totaling $269 million, were distributed in 2006 and 2010.
The vouchers will be used to purchase new computer hardware and software, technology maintenance, professional development and related services.
To be eligible for the funds, the schools and districts need to have an education technology plan approved by the California Department of Education and at least 40 percent of their students need to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
"As we continue building momentum toward the common Core State Standards and an era of smart new assessments, these resources come at an important time for our schools," Torlakson said in a statement.
