FERRIDAY, La. &045; The new technological world means kindergarten isn’t just about the alphabet, colors and nap time anymore.

Today’s 5- and 6-year-olds probably work computers better than many older adults and a near $90,000 grant will make sure Concordia Parish students continue their computer discovery.

This year, kindergartners at Ferriday Lower Elementary and Monterey School will get new computers and software as part of the &uot;Reading: The Key to a Better Tomorrow&uot; project.

The school district was awarded the 8(g) competitive grant for $89,460 from the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. During the 2006-07 school year, Vidalia Lower Elementary will get the new equipment.

FLE has computers in every classroom, Principal Loretta Peterman said, but it’s past time for an update.

&uot;A lot of the equipment we have is older and the older computers won’t let you access some software,&uot; she said. &uot;The teachers are excited. We are just really excited about it.&uot;

The grant will put four new computers in all FLE kindergarten classrooms, buy some new software and provide teacher training on the equipment. Old wiring in the building will also be replaced.

Peterman said the new computers will allow teachers to set up more centers and take advantage of numerous education Web sites that correspond with reading programs and textbooks.

&uot;(The kids) love it,&uot; she said. &uot;Sometimes teachers will sit down with them, sometimes they will sit down by themselves. They can review the lesson or go to sites that have the author reading the book out loud.&uot;

The grant is one of several 8(g) grants the Concordia Parish district receives.