Update: Friday, September 16th at 10:00 p.m.:

Apple reports more than 600 school districts have gone from using traditional textbooks in some classes, to using the iPad for their textbook needs.

Students at Columbia Independent School have been using the tablets since the beginning of the school year.

CIS Administrators bought dozens of the $500 tablets at a discount rate from Apple and loan them to sixth graders through seniors.

The students were responsible for buying iPad covers.

School officials said iPads work better than laptops.

Columbia Independent School Teacher Doug Sept said, “We’ve seen a lot of advantages as far as portability goes.  The students are able to access their files easier because we are using so many internet-based options and cloud computing which allows students to save files wirelessly.”

According to the National Association of Independent Schools, about 60% of schools experimenting with alternatives are using laptops.

Only about 13% are using tablets and iPads.

There’s another 13% that are actually switching to iPads or other tablets this year.

Original Story:

Apple reports more than 600 school districts have gone from using traditional textbooks in some classes, to using the iPad for their textbook needs.

One Mid-Missouri school is using iPads with their students in classrooms. But can it really help save a school district money and help the student learn better?

Tonight at 10, we look at iPads in education and how local schools can and are benefitting.