The Manteca Unified School District (MUSD) is making news for providing all of its students with digital technology access in their classrooms. In 2015, the district’s 23,000 students and 1,200 teachers were given touch screen Windows 8 devices loaded with Microsoft Office, OneNote, Skype and Bing in the Classroom. With the exact same devices in their hands, each student — regardless of age, ability or economic status — can create, collaborate and express their ideas using Microsoft technologies.
“Hands down, the absolute best part of having a child with a device is that it levels the playing field for each and every child,” said Donna Morais, fifth-grade teacher at MUSD’s Shasta Elementary School. “These devices have equalized everything … I’m definitely a spectator as they blossom into these amazing people.”
MUSD’s vision is to “change the relationship of teaching and learning in ways that prepare students for their global future while thriving locally,” and the school board decided that taking the district digital was the key to preparing its students for the future.
“I certainly think now that our digital initiative is making Manteca unique, but in addition to that, we also pride ourselves on longevity and continuity in the district,” said Jason Messer, MUSD superintendent. “We work hard to prepare our students for their future, whether that’s college or a career.”
Read more about MUSD’s digital transformation and watch the video here. For more on Microsoft’s work with educators, visit the Microsoft in Education blog.
