If you need a device but can afford one

[Anonymous]

I requested them for my kids. DCPS will only support its own devices. Both my kids schools say they have enough. We pick up next week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also told our charter we can buy one but they said they had plenty. I don’t think you’re necessarily using up resources although perhaps with DCPS it’s different.

Charters and DCPS are not the same on this.

The concern is real - the Council is very concerned that DCPS does not have enough and has not been reassured by the systems’s answers. I hope they do but as with everything I am sure the richer schools have plenty and worry about the others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI DCPS tech support is not responsive to tech or platform issues with students that are using personal devices. They are only willing to help you when you are using a DCPS computer.

This is my concern. I don’t want to buy our own to “do our part” only to find dcps wont help us if we need tech help. I’ve asked this question in the chat session of two parent u events and no response, which I take to mean, “sorry, can’t help you.” So I’m asking for devices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DCPS teacher in addition to a DCPS parent, and I chose to purchase devices for my own children. The schools will give you one if you ask, but I hate to imagine my taking them for my children leading to other children ending up with devices that aren't as good. DCPS schools do have plenty of laptops in general, but many of them are really quite bad, and I want the students who have no other options to have the devices that work best.

That said, if you do truly need one, definitely request one from your school!

Why do you think this? DCPS has issued specs for systems that are recommended and have purchased devices that meet those specs specifically for distribution to students districtwide. Do you think the central has spent the summer cleaning out schools and are handing them out?

Your request, as a DCPS parent and teacher will not cause another child to go without. Families, regardless of means, should be encouraged and comfortable requesting devices from schools to ensure compatibility with DCPS platforms and to minimize tech issues as the school year begins.

As I said, I'm a DCPS teacher, so I worked with students and the DCPS laptops every day last year. DCPS has gotten some new devices (the surface go devices) which I hope are better, but those are limited. The laptops that we had last year in classrooms frequently did not work properly, and I wouldn't want any child to have one like that as their only option at home. If I chose to take a DCPS device for my own child, there would be fewer good devices available for other children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Webcams aren't available anywhere. They're even rarer than a Nintendo switch.

There are tons on Amazon....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DCPS teacher in addition to a DCPS parent, and I chose to purchase devices for my own children. The schools will give you one if you ask, but I hate to imagine my taking them for my children leading to other children ending up with devices that aren't as good. DCPS schools do have plenty of laptops in general, but many of them are really quite bad, and I want the students who have no other options to have the devices that work best.

That said, if you do truly need one, definitely request one from your school!

Why do you think this? DCPS has issued specs for systems that are recommended and have purchased devices that meet those specs specifically for distribution to students districtwide. Do you think the central has spent the summer cleaning out schools and are handing them out?

Your request, as a DCPS parent and teacher will not cause another child to go without. Families, regardless of means, should be encouraged and comfortable requesting devices from schools to ensure compatibility with DCPS platforms and to minimize tech issues as the school year begins.

As I said, I'm a DCPS teacher, so I worked with students and the DCPS laptops every day last year. DCPS has gotten some new devices (the surface go devices) which I hope are better, but those are limited. The laptops that we had last year in classrooms frequently did not work properly, and I wouldn't want any child to have one like that as their only option at home. If I chose to take a DCPS device for my own child, there would be fewer good devices available for other children.

I am a teacher too. Please stop staying this and discouraging people from getting DCPS approved, optimized and ready to go devices. I am teaching summer bridge this week and the technical issues (on the student side) are real - bad microphones, videos,etc. Everybody that is chiming in about doing their part are going to be the first ones with devices that are not compatible with DCPS platforms and are going to use up more resources trying to get them to work properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Webcams aren't available anywhere. They're even rarer than a Nintendo switch.

There are tons on Amazon....

Only cheap knockoffs that have had their prices jacked up. All the reputable manufacturers are out of stock or are selling old models and twice the price.

[Anonymous]

DCPS clearly doesn't have enough for everyone. If they did, they would simply have a pick up day and tell everyone when to come (this is what I hear other school districts are doing). By asking people to make requests, they are clearly trying to limit the number they are handing out. They also provided specifications- again, with the intent being that some people will be providing their own device. Do what you want to do- there are no specific rules against making a request for a device. But it is clear to me that the district is not able to provide one for everyone and that they are hoping some people will choose to provide their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS clearly doesn't have enough for everyone. If they did, they would simply have a pick up day and tell everyone when to come (this is what I hear other school districts are doing). By asking people to make requests, they are clearly trying to limit the number they are handing out. They also provided specifications- again, with the intent being that some people will be providing their own device. Do what you want to do- there are no specific rules against making a request for a device. But it is clear to me that the district is not able to provide one for everyone and that they are hoping some people will choose to provide their own.

They are asking people to request devices for tracking purposes. If you ask for one you will get one. Simply handing out devices is foolish and wasteful.

[Anonymous]

Great source.....https://www.backmarket.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS clearly doesn't have enough for everyone. If they did, they would simply have a pick up day and tell everyone when to come (this is what I hear other school districts are doing). By asking people to make requests, they are clearly trying to limit the number they are handing out. They also provided specifications- again, with the intent being that some people will be providing their own device. Do what you want to do- there are no specific rules against making a request for a device. But it is clear to me that the district is not able to provide one for everyone and that they are hoping some people will choose to provide their own.

They are asking people to request devices for tracking purposes. If you ask for one you will get one. Simply handing out devices is foolish and wasteful.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS clearly doesn't have enough for everyone. If they did, they would simply have a pick up day and tell everyone when to come (this is what I hear other school districts are doing). By asking people to make requests, they are clearly trying to limit the number they are handing out. They also provided specifications- again, with the intent being that some people will be providing their own device. Do what you want to do- there are no specific rules against making a request for a device. But it is clear to me that the district is not able to provide one for everyone and that they are hoping some people will choose to provide their own.

They are asking people to request devices for tracking purposes. If you ask for one you will get one. Simply handing out devices is foolish and wasteful.

+1

+2. Our charter is giving out devices to everyone, but also had us do the survey. It also asks about wifi access, and only those kids without reliable internet at home will be getting the mobile hot spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI DCPS tech support is not responsive to tech or platform issues with students that are using personal devices. They are only willing to help you when you are using a DCPS computer.

This is my concern. I don’t want to buy our own to “do our part” only to find dcps wont help us if we need tech help. I’ve asked this question in the chat session of two parent u events and no response, which I take to mean, “sorry, can’t help you.” So I’m asking for devices.

Do you actually need tech help for this stuff? It's not that hard to figure out ...

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I have had multiple students have issues not being able to log into TEAMS and Clever. During summer school I would fill out requests for help each day and the families that had personal devices never received assistance. When filling out the ticket it said that it would take 5 days for a response. That is a lot of instructional time that was lost. And again the families never received assistance. I was told that families with personal devices were not a priority and that it would be better if the family had a DCPS issued device. When problems arose with my students with DCPS devices the families were able to bring the device to the school and swap it out right away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also told our charter we can buy one but they said they had plenty. I don’t think you’re necessarily using up resources although perhaps with DCPS it’s different.

Charters and DCPS are not the same on this.

The concern is real - the Council is very concerned that DCPS does not have enough and has not been reassured by the systems’s answers. I hope they do but as with everything I am sure the richer schools have plenty and worry about the others.

Why are you sure about that?