In Knox County, parents, teachers and community leaders learned how technology could be a tool for students' success in the classroom.
The Knox County Council PTA held its annual education forum in Downtown Knoxville on Thursday.
One of the speakers was the superintendent of a North Carolina school district. He talked about his district's "laptop initiative," which is equipping all of its students with laptops, interactive boards and iPads.
The superintendent said with the program, students are getting better grades and graduation rates are increasing.
Knox County's PTA president says it's an initiative our schools can learn from.
"I certainly believe that we can learn a lot of things from different folks and different areas and hopefully put those to use here in the best way we can for our kids," said Sandra Rowcliffe.
The State Department of Education also talked about the new, higher "common core standards" for all students.