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Computers for Learning News

DADS Partners with the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders

The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders is getting a boost from the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services with the donation of personal computers, courtesy of the DADS Computers for Learning (CFL) program.

On June 15, 2007, CFL conduced training for the school's first students. More than 130 students and parents were trained on computer maintenance and Internet safety.

The CFL program, a partnership between DADS, private industry, nonprofit organizations and school districts, donates used computers to students as part of its agreement to provide serviceable reconditioned PCs for eligible students at targeted Austin Independent School District (AISD) campuses.

The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders is a college preparatory school that will help prepare young women for academic, civic and career leadership. The school, which opens in fall 2007, will start out with sixth and seventh-grade classes, and will add one class a year. Eventually it will include grades six through 12. Although the school is open to all female AISD students, priority in admissions will be given to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The curriculum will augment the AISD effort- and standards-based curriculum with teaching strategies, relational models and additional school resources found to be particularly successful in the academic and leadership development of young women.

Students received a weeklong orientation in June to help prepare them for the new curriculum. As part of their orientation, CFL provided training on the donated computers.

All qualifying girls will be given refurbished computers at the beginning of the school year to assist them in their schoolwork. Grande Communications will provide free Internet access until they graduate high school.

Grande Communications has been a partner with DADS and the CFL program since 2001, donating more than 2,000 internet accounts to students in the Austin and San Marcos school districts. The accounts have a value of more than $600,000.

For more information on other DADS volunteer programs, visit the DADS website.

Updated: September 19, 2007