By issuing all students a similar laptop, the district hopes to make technology access and learning opportunities equitable. This extends learning beyond the school day and expands opportunities for collaboration.

All 6th-12th grade students enrolled in FBISD will participate in the EquippED 1:1 program and be issued a laptop.

There is no cost for the laptop. However, the student’s primary guardian will be responsible for any costs associated with laptop damage, loss, or theft. There is an optional insurance plan that the student can get to cover damage and loss. 
 

No, all 6th – 12th grade students will be issued a FBISD laptop. This creates a uniform digital landscape for teachers, allowing them to plan lessons and experiences without having to consider issues like device compatibility, permissions, and software variations. 

Yes, and they will be expected to bring their laptop to school every day fully charged. They should also bring their charger, just in case. Their laptop will be their tool to access textbooks and assignments and is easier than times past when students were required to bring several textbooks to and from school every day.

Students will be expected to bring their laptop fully charged, but they should also bring their laptop’s charger with them each day. Classrooms will be equipped with locations for plugging in some laptops for charging.

Campuses will have a small supply of “Day Use” laptops that can be checked out and returned at the end of the day. Repeated incidents of forgotten laptops may result in disciplinary actions.

Yes, the EquippED laptops are much faster computers and have double the memory of the current classroom laptops provided on carts. Additionally, the EquippED laptops have a full HD 14” monitor which is larger than existing classroom laptops. They are also thinner, lighter, and have a longer battery life.

No, FBISD students will keep their laptops over the summer for use with summer school, summer programs, continued learning, or other academic activities. Students will continue to use the same device each year.

Campuses will communicate their individual distribution plans in back-to-school communications in July or August, and all students will be issued their laptop at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.

Purchasing laptops for each secondary student in FBISD costs $30 million. The district was recently awarded a $17.6 million Federal Grant which allows it to cover most of the cost. By taking advantage of this grant, the district can reserve $17.6 million in 2023 Bond Proposition B (for technology) funding and save the money for future student technology needs.

Yes, while elementary students will continue using the “Classroom Toolkit” model (a laptop/iPad cart in each classroom), all carts will receive eight additional laptops. This will reduce the number of elementary students who must share a laptop and provides campuses with additional devices for state-required testing.

In a 1:1 program, students are assigned a laptop long term (for as long as they are a 6th-12th grader in FBISD). The Lending Library program, which will continue at all FBISD elementary schools, allows students to check a laptop or iPad out from the library for two weeks at a time, as they would a library book. It provides short-term access to a computer at home to complete special projects but is not designed for long-term use.

Many special education students already have a purpose-built device appropriate for their specific needs. Others may not benefit from a device they have to transport each day. Special Education classrooms will continue to have carts with shared devices that best meet the current needs of students in that classroom.

Yes, however, a laptop for day use program is limited and there is no guarantee a device will be available.  It is best to ensure that students take their laptop to school each day fully charged and ready for the instructional day.

Yes, as long as they are enrolled in FBISD, they will keep their issued laptop.