California schools will soon receive more than $400 million for educational technology needs as a result of a settlement in a state antitrust case against the Microsoft Corp.
As part of the agreement, approved by a state superior court judge in San Francisco in 2004, a fund was created to offer vouchers to schools to purchase computers, software, professional development, and other related services, according to a spokesman at the California Department of Education.
Schools in which at least 40 percent of the students qualify for federally subsidized meals will be eligible to receive the money.
“This settlement agreement provides a wonderful opportunity to close the digital divide in many of our schools,” state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said in a July 26 press release.
The total settlement of $1.1 billion was reached after a series of class actions were filed alleging that Microsoft, based in Redmond, Wash., had violated California’s antitrust and unfair-competition laws.
