Apple Scores $30M iPad Deal With L.A. Schools

Apple announced Wednesday that it has landed a major deal to sell iPad tablets to the second-largest public school district in the United States.

The Los Angeles School Board of Education has approved a $30 million deal to roll out iPads to students in its district beginning this fall. Each iPad tablet will include the "Pearson Common Core System of Courses delivered via a new app," Apple said in a statement. The iPads will also be equipped with iWork, iLife, iTunes and some educational third-party apps.

The school district is paying $678 for each iPad, since it includes the pre-loaded educational software, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The battle for market share in the education space is competitive. A Microsoft spokesperson commented generally on tablets in schools, in a statement to Mashable on Wednesday: "Why would a school choose a device that prepares students to play games and watch videos? Why wouldn’t a school pick a device that prepares them for the workforce?"

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) said it chose the iPad for quality ratings, high scores from its student and teacher review panel, and for being its least expensive option.

“The vote is another step forward in the District’s plan to equip every one of its students with a device by 2014," Jaime Aquino, district deputy superintendent of instruction, said. "When completed, the LAUSD will become the largest district in the nation to provide each of its students with the technology.”

The district's purchase will join the "nearly 10 million iPads already in schools today,” according to Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

But Apple isn't the only tech giant getting a slice of the education market pie. In the past few months, Dell has scored deals with at least six school districts across the country to distribute its Windows 8-powered Latitude 10 tablets. Also, Southern Illinois University will be giving all incoming freshman a Latitude 10 tablet.

Earlier this year, Amplify — the education division of News Corp. focused on creating digital products for classrooms — showed off its 10-inch Android tablet targeted toward teachers and students.

Samsung is developing its own solution for the classroom that combines tablets, e-boards and other technology, a company spokesperson told Mashable. The Samsung School solution, which incorporates Android-based Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablets, has been piloted with students in Tennessee's Memphis City Schools.

What do you think about tablets in schools? Is it an effective educational tool or an unwanted distraction? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Posted in: iOS7,iPhone 5S,iPhone Apps,WWDC,WWDC 2013