Gateway Makes the Grade With a $2.2 Million Contract From the Illinois State Board of Education

Gateway Makes the Grade With a $2.2 Million Contract From the Illinois State
Board of Education

Gateway, Inc., the nation’s third-largest PC company, is earning high marks with the announcement of a $2.2 million agreement with the Illinois State Board of Education. As part of the contract, Gateway will provide convertible notebook PCs and support services to five Illinois school districts for the state’s Technology Immersion Pilot Project. Gateway is working in tandem with the Illinois Board of Education to make the Technology Immersion Pilot Project a success. Gateway is providing participating schools a complete solution, including best-in-class technology and excellent service that is delivered from call centers located in North America.

“We are excited to partner with Gateway to help close the digital divide,” said Illinois Lt. Governor Pat Quinn. “Laptops are the textbooks of tomorrow. I applaud the Board of Education and these forward-thinking schools for electing to engage in an innovative program that prepares students for success in the workplace and beyond.” The Gateway® M285 Convertible Notebook PCs will be given to teachers and sixth graders for use as a teaching tool to support day-to-day instruction and student testing. The convertible notebook’s unique design allows it to be easily “converted” from notebook into tablet-mode by simply swiveling and folding down the display. The tablet enables students to use the PC with the digital pen for numerous activities including, solving mathematical equations, drawing diagrams, editing documents and taking notes directly on the widescreen display. Teachers are able to enhance the curriculum and classroom collaboration by taking advantage of the functionality of the convertible notebooks.

The Gateway M285s will be used to support multiple programs within the Technology Immersion Pilot Project, a joint effort between Illinois State Lt. Governor Pat Quinn’s office and the Illinois State Board of Education. The project supplies students with the laptops equipped with science and math tutorials; word processing, note taking and spreadsheet software. In addition, educators will benefit from professional development training and schools will receive technical assistance to aid in developing a school-based laptop network. “We admire Lt. Governor Quinn and the Illinois State Board of Education for their strategic approach to increasing student engagement,” said Vin Riera, Gateway vice president, professional sales. “Leveraging technology in the classroom contributes to stronger student involvement and attendance. It’s fulfilling to see that our convertible PCs are enriching the learning experience and preparing students for the workplace of the future.”

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