Open Source Software Implementation in K12 Schools

Simply stated, open-source software is computer software whose source code is available under a copyright license that permits users to study, change, and improve the software, and to freely distribute it to potential users. If you've never heard of open source software, you're not alone.  Commercial, or proprietary, software has dominated the computer industry for many years. Most school personnel have understandably assumed that commercial software was the only option available.  View our recommended free and open source software list.

The open source software movement has been available for many years, however, high quality software tools have only recently evolved to the point where they are a viable option for schools. According to opensource.org, the open source movement can be traced back decades while the label "open source" was first used in 1998 when Netscape decided to give away the source code to its Internet browser.  Additional informtion about the open source license can be found at http://www.opensource.org.