Kindergarten is a time of tremendous opportunity. For all kindergarten students and their families, this is the beginning of children's formalized learning journeys and is important in determining the course of their lives. With the use of cutting-edge technology in the form of Apple iPad's we are taking a large, but essential step to ensure that our students are prepared for the tremendous opportunities to grow that await them in their education.

The goal of Advantage 2014 is to increase Auburn students’ mastery rates in literacy and numeracy, as measured in grade 3, from 63% & 60% respectively in the spring of 2011, to 90% by the end of the 2014-15 school year. One strategy for meeting this bold goal is a 1:1 iPad 2 initiative, starting with every Auburn kindergarten student and his or her family.

The program includes ongoing professional development and support, and a well designed research study.

Half of Auburn's kindergarten classrooms received their iPads in September 2011.  The remaining classrooms got theirs in December, once we collected data for the study.  Professional development has included several workshop days, several days of training in the summer, and making use of many of the district's elementary level early release days (every Wednesday).