Schools Receive $1 Million in Software

Students in Glendale and the Antelope Valley were among the first pupils in the county this week to benefit from a $1-million donation of educational computer software.

Representatives from Davidson & Associates, a Torrance-based company that publishes and distributes multimedia educational and entertainment software, will donate dozens of programs to the Los Angeles County Office of Education over the next three years to be used in school districts around the county.

The gift is part of an effort by the Office of Education to bring business, community and school leaders together to prepare the county’s 1.5 million elementary, junior high and high school students for the 21st century.

“There is so much for students to learn as information doubles every year,” said Jan Davidson, president of the company. “I strongly believe that technology presents powerful opportunities to advance learning.”

The programs, geared toward kindergarten through high school students, offer exercises in basic reading, writing and arithmetic, problem solving and making oral presentations. Teachers will also receive instruction materials, as well as technical support, for the computer programs.

“In addition to teaching kids the basic skills, this software will teach them how to handle all of this new technology, which is changing every day,” said Steve Horowitz, spokesman for the county Office of Education.

The county office will begin training sessions for teachers next month when the first round of software arrives at the schools. Eleven of the county’s 112 school districts were selected to be the first to receive the software because they have the computers to run the programs. County Supt. of Schools Donald Ingwerson said his office will also help schools that don’t have the hardware to run the programs to buy the necessary equipment.