The Department of Education has selected eight campuses to pilot a digital device initiative that could eventually expand to provide all public school students with laptops or tablets.

Initially the school system sought $29 million over the next two years for an ambitious plan to roll out a so-called 1-to-1 device initiative statewide. It proposed using the money to lease devices and buy digital curricula aligned with the Common Core State Standards — national benchmarks in language arts and mathematics being launched in the upcoming school year. The DOE has pledged to change to the new standards and student assessments as part of the department’s strategic plan.

Lawmakers budgeted $8 million for the DOE to pilot the digital device program on a small scale.

Senate Ways and Means Chairman David Ige said at the time that he had serious doubts about the department’s ability to efficiently manage a multimillion-dollar plan to provide laptops to all students. In his committee report on the budget, Ige said lawmakers were "hard-pressed in finding that the 1-to-1 digital device per student strategy is the best means of meeting the (Common Core State Standards) assessments."

DOE spokeswoman Dona­lyn Dela Cruz said at the time the department remained "committed to rigorous educational standards that support student learning and cultivate key technical skills for college or career readiness."

With the reduced funding, schools were asked to apply to participate in what the DOE is calling its Common Core Digital Curriculum Pilot Project. Schools were chosen in part because their campuses have the needed technological infrastructure in place.

They include Keaau Elementary, Mililani Mauka Elementary, Mililani Waena Elementary, Moanalua Middle, Nanaikapono Elementary, Nanakuli Elementary, Nanakuli Intermediate and High, and Pahoa Elementary. The schools will get a tablet or laptop for every student and teacher, plus new curriculum and training on Google Apps for Education.

Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said the pilot and the overall transition to Common Core "helps set a high standard for student achievement and pushes our efforts even further in preparing our students for post-secondary success."

Nationally, "a handful of states" have enacted legislation creating laptop programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some are experimenting with changing the definition of a textbook to include digital content and the devices needed to deliver content, and allowing funds to be used for devices.

Keaau Elementary’s 800 students have been using tablets and laptops over the last two years and have seen improved test scores.

Principal Chad Keone Farias said the Hawaii island campus has surpassed the state average in math standardized test scores and is on par with the state average in reading.

"And we’ve seen a drop in our chronic absenteeism, which we attribute to school being a lot more engaging," Farias said. "We’re very, very grateful that the Legislature provided this funding and is giving students the chance to drive this."

Farias said Keaau applied for the pilot because its current lineup of digital devices is situated on a hodgepodge of platforms and operating systems because the school made purchases in phases.

"We want to participate in a true 1-to-1, where we can manage a clean rollout of the new digital curriculum," he said.