The Stancil family used proceeds from their online bakery, Pink Confetti, to purchase three Chromebooks for Duncan Creek ES, with hopes of donating two more. The Stancils have sold baked goods, freshly picked veggies, and home-cooked meals and BBQ to raise funds for the tech gear as well as school supplies and other needs in their community.
As part of the district’s back-to-school planning, GCPS asked families about their access to internet-enabled computers (laptop, Chromebook, or desktop model) and reliable internet. Based on parent survey responses and demonstrated need during Digital Learning Days (DLD) in the spring, district leaders determined that some 45,000 Chromebooks would be needed to close the “technology needs gap.”
In official action at the July and August Board meetings, the School Board approved additional funding to support equitable access to quality digital learning. Altogether, GCPS has spent more than $9 million to close the needs gap by acquiring more Chromebooks as well as hotspots for students who have limited-to-no-internet access. In addition to the funds local schools have used to acquire Chromebooks, GCPS has spent approximately $5 million to purchase additional devices and $4.3 million to procure hotspots with service for 12 calendar months.
Between school-based devices and the district-level tech infusion, GCPS has been able to deploy more than 48,000 Chromebooks to support student learning and another 19,342 Chromebooks are on order. Due to supply-chain challenges, GCPS expects the on-order Chromebooks to arrive in 10 to 12 weeks. “This purchase of additional Chromebooks will help the district be prepared for future digital needs,” says Ken McClung, executive director for Enterprise Support Services. In the meantime, the district has spent more than $520,000 to convert 15,000 older windows devices into functioning Chromebooks. We also have acquired 19,208 hotspots to provide internet access. GCPS’ first priority is checking out available devices, based on need. To date, 4,576 hotspots and 49,638 computers—both Chromebooks and Windows laptops—have been checked out students.
“Distribution of Chromebooks and hotspots is being handled by the local schools as school leaders are most familiar with the needs in their communities,” says Dr. Babak Mostaghimi, executive director for Innovation and Program Improvement. “We appreciate the support from the Board, community partners, and other funding sources for helping us ensure that our students have the opportunity to participate fully in the digital learning experience.”
GCPS’ three-pronged strategy will support a communitywide effort to ensure that students have the tools they need to learn in the virtual classroom:
— External Sourcing for Device/Hotspot Funds: By applying for additional grants and seeking other funding opportunities, the district will continue to build up the device/hotspot availability for families.
— Strategic Community Partnerships: Strategic partnerships with community organizations across the county are expected to yield additional funds and device supplies to support our families.
— Pilots of Wi-Fi Access: GCPS is procuring and piloting a limited number of Wi-Fi hubs to provide free and secure internet access at specific spots— for instance, large apartment complexes— to expand access for families.
Check out this “Focus Moment” from GCPS TV about the district’s efforts to expand online access and deploy technology resources where they are needed most.