This paper briefly discusses the project currently being conducted by Croatian Academic and Research Network – CARNet under abbreviated name ‘e-Schools pilot project’. The project is aiming at introducing information and communication technology (ICT) into the school system in Croatia in the period 2015-2018, while the second phase is foreseen for a later period. Both phases would be financed mostly from the European Union Structural Funds. The project is an opportunity for a centrally co-ordinated and comprehensive digitalisation of a significant number of schools in Croatia. Such intervention was not possible in Croatia during the last decade due to the recession, which resulted with sporadic and limited improvement of information and communication infrastructure and equipment in schools. According to the project plan 151 schools are participating in the pilot-phase, which is 10% of all schools in Croatia, while the following 50 % should be considered for the second phase. The theoretical foundation for the project is the concept of digital maturity of schools, recognised by The European Commission and implemented with variations in some EU countries. The concept was reviewed in the first year of the project and a new theoretical framework, suitable for Croatian context, was developed in co-operation between two partner institutions in the project. According to this framework schools can achieve digital maturity in 5 areas by which all project activities are guided (leadership and management; ICT in learning and teaching; development of digital competencies; ICT culture and ICT infrastructure). Such holistic approach is the main challenge in the project as it requires from schools a much deeper involvement than expected. This paper raises the question of how to address this challenge. Described intervention is of a unique scope and it is expected that it should have an impact on the education system in Croatia. In order to examine the effects of the pilot project on schools as organisations as well as on employees and students an extensive research has been designed and is conducted by the research team from University of Rijeka, Croatia. The research has five main objectives concerning general and specific learning outcomes, digital competencies, attitudes and behaviour of students, educational and administrative staff, and the level of digital maturity of schools generally. Results will be published in the summer of 2018 and will provide information and recommendations for planning the continuation of the project.

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