Hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles Unified students were going to receive iPads as part of a multimillion-dollar technology rollout – at least that was the plan.

• Internal Emails Show LA School Officials Started iPad Talks With Software Supplier a Year Before Bids
• Updated: LA schools Cancel iPad Contracts After KPCC Publishes Internal Emails
• LAUSD iPads: Federal Grand Jury Probes After FBI Seizes Documents
• Election 2015: iPad Controversy Looms Large in LAUSD Board Race
• LAUSD Ditching Pearson iPad Program Software, Demanding Multimillion Dollar Refund
• SEC Scrutinizing LAUSD’s Bond-Funded iPad Program
• Schools Dealing with Aftermath of LAUSD’s iPad Fiasco

Comments from the Judges:

“It’s immediately clear that the [the team behind this entry] did a HUGE amount of legwork, really impressive.  … [T]his is obviously really, really good reporting and investigative work. … Amazing how the KPCC reporting really triggered the FBI investigation so clearly.  This is why investigative journalism is so important. … Gilbertson stayed on top of all the developments, clearly knows the ins and outs of the story at this point. … Reporter dealing with a lot of issues that could sound like inside baseball, but she does a very nice job of making them relatable and understandable for a general audience.”