Thursday, October 28, 2010

'One Card' Program for Boston Public School Students

Can't find any details here.

Link to October 28 Boston Globe article, "New student card: Big benefit or Big Brother?"

Excerpt: City officials plan to launch a pilot program today to make it easier for some public school students to use city services by providing them with one card they can use to ride the MBTA, withdraw books from city libraries, play sports, attend after-school programs at community centers, and access meal programs at their schools.  [Emphasis added.  Just books?]

The so-called BostONEcard will also be used to take attendance and may eventually serve as a debit card, among other potential uses.

“We’re working hard to focus the assets of the whole city on the development of the whole child,’’ Mayor Thomas M. Menino said in a statement. “This card will help make the assets of our city more accessible and remind each student every day that there are community centers and libraries for them to explore.’’

This program is starting at the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Chinatown, where all 530 students in grades 6 through 12 are being provided a card, which has multiple barcodes, a radio frequency device to use on the T, and their photos.

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