WASHINGTON -- A growing number of school districts that provide individual laptops to their students argue such programs cost no more than traditional computer labs, but some budget-strapped schools still face a digital divide.

Maine's 2002 statewide one-to-one laptop initiative prompted other school districts to ramp up efforts in preparing students for technology-dependent college and work communities. Those who have implemented laptop programs say they actually save money by replacing textbooks with electronic versions and eliminating computer laboratories.

Not everyone is convinced. Many schools remain hesitant and unable to invest in $1,500 laptops for every student. Some have implemented cheaper programs, like "laptop carts" and community wireless networks, to address teaching students about technology. Others say they will wait it out until a cheaper laptop is available.

"A lot of state money for technology has dried up," said Brad Johnson, technology director for Cedar Falls Community Schools, referring to a $30 million Iowa technology funding initiative that was eliminated in 2002. His district relies on "thin client" labs, which use one $5,000 server to deliver content to multiple stripped-down computers that cost as little as $200.

Maine announced a four-year renewed contract with Apple this summer to provide laptops, online services and training in 231 middle schools. The contract is worth approximately $48 million.

A similar initiative in Henrico County, Va., costs the district $8 million a year. The district has started a three-year study to see if the laptops really enhance learning.

Jeff Berger, legislative liaison for the Iowa Department of Education, cautioned that throwing money at hardware won't necessarily provide students the tech skills they need. Instead of putting in a laptop program, the department has provided seed money to Iowa school districts that find innovative uses of technology.

One district has used the money to offer instruction through podcasts. Another has created a communitywide wireless network.

But at Barbers Hill School District near Houston, Technology Director James Banks said the decision to use laptops was natural in a society that values portable electronics.

"Kids have to be prepared to do everything electronically in college," he said.

Banks said the high school in the district already had 550 PCs before starting the laptop program in 2004. Replacing them with 1,000 laptops was money well-spent: "Students only accessed the desktops once a week, an ineffective use of taxpayers' money. Now they can use the computers every day."

Schools that can't afford to expand their existing technology programs have remained skeptical about if benefits outweigh costs. Laptop programs do not necessarily translate to better test scores, and some cheaper alternatives offer students access to the same technology.

In Cobb County, Ga., schools have laptop carts that teachers check out for classroom use. The district has to buy fewer computers as a result, but students can't take them home.

"It doesn't make sense to put $1,500 laptops in every student's hands when the curriculum objective doesn't necessarily require that (technology)" said Chris Ragsdale, the district's chief technology officer.

A low-cost, bare bones laptop has yet to take hold in the U.S. market. Casio introduced and then discontinued a $400 machine with limited graphics for student use in 2000. Renaissance Learning's AlphaSmart is a similarly tailored laptop.

But schools have preferred relying on the technology giants Dell and Apple, because they provide support services - including filters to limit student access to unwanted content - that are beyond the capacity of smaller companies.

Some school districts have expressed interest in using a $100 laptop expected this fall for use in poor countries. Jackie Lustig, spokeswoman for One Laptop Per Child, said the company would "focus outside the United States, but is interested in any school district or states that on a large scale would commit to the program."

Contact Ambreen Ali at newsroom@wcfcourier.com.