"To close the achievement gap, having access is one of the first steps," said Harouna Ba, a senior research associate with Education Development Center in New York City.

Nowadays, students go online for research projects, to get supplemental help with standardized tests and to research colleges. A computer allows them to type and print their essays, get graphics for poster boards and check on their grades.

"If someone handwrites their paper, it's not likely going to get the same grade," Ba said. "Word files, they can spell-check. They can check their grammar. The advantages are unlimited."