Nationwide Initiative to Support Early Education in Hispanic Communities Launched

 IBM Launches Nationwide Initiative to Support Early Education in Hispanic

Communities
IBM provides $2 million of Young Explorer computer centers for Hispanic
students in preschools and Kindergarten classes







ORLANDO, Fla., - Under a $2 million initiative, IBM (NYSE: IBM) is donating 
1,000 Young Explorer(TM) computer
centers to preschool and early childhood programs in areas with populations of
40 percent or more Hispanic as part of the IBM KidSmart Early Learning
program.  The program includes teacher training and curriculum targeting
children between the ages of 4 to 7 years old.  The grant is part of an
overall effort by IBM to support education within the Hispanic community, the
fastest growing part of the U.S. population.  According to the U.S. Census
Bureau, Latino children are more likely to drop out of high school than any
other ethnic group in the U.S.   Furthermore, Latinos are significantly
underrepresented in technical and engineering professions according to the
National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. 





The national donation was announced at Ventura Elementary School, one of the
12 elementary schools in the Florida Orange County Public School district
receiving the new computers.  "All students deserve access to the same
resources, yet, we know that some populations face a disparity especially
where English may be a second language," said Lisa Suggs, Principal at Ventura
Elementary.  "We're excited to be part of this initiative and deliver high
quality teaching resources to all of our children participating in this
program."  Orlando is one of 13 regions around the country to receive the
computer learning centers.  The other areas include Miami, Tampa, Chicago, Los
Angeles, New York, Dallas, Austin, Minneapolis, Tucson and Yonkers, New York. 



IBM's KidSmart program includes the Young Explorer, a computer housed in
brightly-colored, kid-friendly Little Tikes(TM) furniture and equipped with
award-winning educational software to help children learn and explore concepts
in math, science and language.  The computer centers can also help children
learn important socialization and collaborative learning skills such as how to
work together to solve problems and sharing.  These skills are important to
prepare children for future success in school and help level the playing
field.


"Independent research done in the U.S. as well as countries around the world
has shown that the IBM KidSmart program improves teaching and learning
especially for those children most in need," said Stanley Litow, vice
president of corporate citizenship and corporate affairs, IBM.   "Today, the
number of Hispanic students pursuing careers in science, math and technology
is extremely low.  We know that early childhood education can prepare children
to excel in school so that math and science are within their grasp, and all
Latino students become potential scientists and engineers, not just the few."


The KidSmart program also includes access to the KidSmart web site, which
provides helpful information for teachers and parents on early childhood
learning and technology.  The web site is also available in 8 languages
including Spanish.


Stanley Litow added, "At a time when many school programs are facing an
education budget crisis, we are extending our program to those communities
that often face reduced resources."


IBM developed the KidSmart program more than a decade ago to help reduce the
digital divide, especially in urban areas, where it was becoming apparent that
children from less affluent backgrounds could benefit from access to
specialized technology tools and educational materials to better prepare them
to enter school. Since then, more than 100,000 teachers have been trained on
how to use the programs effectively in the classroom.  IBM estimates that
millions of children worldwide have used a KidSmart computer learning center. 


For more information about IBM, please visit: www.ibm.com.


Note to registered journalists: to view and download b-roll in broadcast or
streaming quality on the IBM KidSmart Early Learning program, please go to:
http://www.thenewsmarket.com/IBMKidSmart.


IBM and the IBM logo are trademarks of International Business Machines
Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.  Other company,
product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.


    Contact:
    Sandra Dressel
    IBM Media Relations
    914-499-6609
    sdressel@us.ibm.com





SOURCE  IBM

Sandra Dressel, IBM Media Relations, +1-914-499-6609, sdressel@us.ibm.com