("Broke") Las Vegas Schools Give Students iPad 2s

Southern Nevada's Clark County School District is giving nearly $800,000 worth of Apple iPad 2 tablet computers to 1,150 Las Vegas area students. It's part of a 1-year pilot program that's the biggest of its kind in the US. Schools receiving the ultra-portable computers include Silverado High School, Leavitt Middle School, Silvestri Middle School, and the Academy for Individualized Study, a special school for non-traditional students like Cirque du Soleil performers.

Each $687 iPad is pre-loaded with a special "interactive" Algebra 1 textbook application. The app -- called the Fuse Algebra textbook -- was developed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and teaches using touch-tab lessons and video tutorials. It also has powerful note-taking functionality.

According to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt the Fuse app is able to deliver "truly personalized instruction" that helps students learn difficult subject matter easier and more quickly. It apparently allows a student to learn at his or her own pace and to easily catch up on lessons if they miss school.

We say: We thought the Clark County School District was completely broke?!? First they spend a million on iPads for teachers last year. Now they buy a butt-load of iPad 2s for lazy high schoolers and middle school students? Does Apple have a mole planted inside the Las Vegas school board or what?

Learn some mo': In turnabout, teachers give students Apples, hope iPads boost test scores