Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, expressed some misgivings about giving every high-school student a laptop computer. "What other states have found is that these laptops are used to cheat on tests, pass around pornography," Pearce said, along with "other problems. ... I wonder if we've really looked ahead." State schools Supt. Tom Luna responded, "We're aware of the challenges, and we're aware that we ned to protect students from predators and from their own curiosity, if you will." Luna said the state would "be diligent to make sure these devices aren't used incorrectly. .. .We have looked at what other states and large districts have done. We're well aware of the pitfalls that we need to be concerned about and prepared for."

Luna said his plan anticipates spending $4.7 million each year to buy laptops for a class, plus additional amounts for maintenance, repair and support; that amount would start at zero in 2012, rise to $2.4 million in fy 2013, $4.8 million in 2014, $7.2 million in 2015, and $9.6 million in 2016 and thereafter.