A new state law that requires Florida high school students to take a class online is causing cash-strapped school districts to spend millions on new computers.

The new law requires incoming freshman, beginning this school year, to take at least one course online prior to graduation.

School districts say that to meet this new requirement they will have to it spend money on new computer labs so that students who do not have access to the Internet at home will be able to take online courses.

"Overall, I don't think it is a bad idea for students because as they go forward there is a lot of online learning that is going to be expected of them," said Highlands County School Board Member J. Ned Hancock.

"Whether it is at the college level or the employment level, it seems like there are more and more Webinars and different continuing education done over the Internet and are computer-based."

That part of it is good; the bad part is the state hasn't done anything to help local districts purchase more computers, he said.

Some students are going to find it hard to fit everything-such as homework or a missed assignment-that is required into one class period just in the computer lab, Hancock said.

Read more of this Education Week News article here.