ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- It's not uncommon for schools to distribute books and other supplies to students, but those attending an Escondido charter school this fall will get something different -- iPods and laptops.

About 100 students will receive one of each this fall when they attend The Classical Academy High School, a charter program that blends independent study and traditional classroom experiences in a small school setting, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Cameron Curry, director of business services for The Classical Academy, said technology is a cornerstone of the high school program, with each student getting a laptop computer and iPod to use during the school year, the newspaper reported.

"That's what they're going to be using in the real world ... the sooner they start, the better," Curry told the Union-Tribune.

Mark Reardon, principal of the new school, said technology is a way to stay current. Web-based learning is real-time learning, Reardon told the newspaper.

Teachers also will be Podcasting their classes, giving students a chance to tap into lectures and presentations they may have missed or want to review, according to the Union-Tribune.

The new high school is an outgrowth of the successful Classical Academy elementary school. As a charter program, it is an independent, publicly funded school that operates free of most state education regulations.