CHARLESTON, W.Va. – It is technology recycling at its best.

As part of the secondlaunchWV initiative, more than 14,000 digital items bound for state surplus have been rerouted to the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) to be rebuilt, refurbish and reinvest into schools across the Mountain State.

Through the secondlaunchWV initiative, computers and other technology equipment no longer being used by state agencies is donated to the West Virginia Department of Education to wipe, clean and upgrade to meet the requirements of the programs used in schools.

Computers, monitors, keyboards and mice are packaged together for ease of use and assembly and provided to schools at no cost.

Beginning in 2018, the West Virginia Department of Education has partnered with the West Virginia Library Commission to also provide equipment to the state’s 118 public libraries.

“Because many of our students access computers at their local libraries, we saw a valuable opportunity to partner with the Library Commission to provide updated equipment,” said West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Paine. “Many of the computers within our libraries are more than ten years old.”

Since the initiative began in June 2015, more than fourteen thousand items have been reinvested within 47 counties, a value of more than $5 million.

The recycled technology is beneficial to students beyond simple digital literacy: it promotes workplace soft skills such as critical thinking, independent research and cross-technology proficiency.

“SecondlaunchWV would not be the success it is today without the incredible partnerships that have been built with both public and private entities,” Paine said.

In addition to equipment from state agencies, private organizations such as Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mountaineer Gas and the West Virginia Air National Guard have also recently donated equipment to secondlaunchWV.

Learn more about secondlaunchWV by visiting https://wvde.us/second-launch/