I've read this whole thread and am more confused than ever. We requested a device via the tech survey but have heard nothing from our school. I have heard from my child's teacher that there will be a pickup day next week but have no other details. I have purposely not pestered them about it because I know they are scrambling to get everything ready for all the students and I don't want to make it harder. But at this point our plan is for my child to dial in using my work computer (which is ancient and also in need of replacing, but I have been putting it off), since I'll be supervising her DL anyway. But obviously that means I cannot work while she is in a lesson.

If we absolutely had to stretch and buy a device, we could do it, though I would really prefer not to as money is tight right now. I feel guilty about it though because I know there are students at my child's school whose need is greater. If it's a question of not having enough to go around, I wish they'd say that and we would figure something out, perhaps we could find a deal somewhere on a refurbished device or find a family member who could hand one down.

On the other hand, we know numerous families at charters whose kids are being provided a device without even having to request one -- they are just giving devices to all students. These are parents who definitely have more means than we do, and in some cases actually already have devices for their children they can use, but are being given a school-provided device anyway.

I do not understand why there is so much variation within the same school system. I mean, I know why, but it makes me angry. I don't blame our school or the teachers or the charters. But this system is so, so broken.

Own

Our school ran out. We purchased one back in March, but I don’t want to purchase a second.

What DC should do is give a stipend or coupon towards a device for those who want (need) to buy their

I was conflicted about this choice. We have two kids, one starting 4th grade at a charter where they basically said that everyone should take the school provided chromebooks, and another starting 7th grade at a DCPS middle school where it was need based according to the tech survey. I was impressed with the charter provided laptop -- everything on it, and set up to be easy for a 9 year old to navigate.

The laptop we owned for our oldest was more problematic -- it conveniently crashed last week and so we had to scramble to order a new one. We're lucky to be able to afford that, but I sort of wonder if we would have been better off just using the school's provided computer, for reasons others have mentioned -- it has everything loaded and protected by blocking any stuff that's not needed, plus you get the school's tech support (although who knows whether that is a blessing or a curse). But in the end I think we don't mind paying if it helps ensure access for families who can't afford to buy devices on their own.

Originally our charter said they have enough but now they backtracked. I now am looking at finding two devices to buy. Kind of annoyed because it’s a “rich” charter and I feel like they should prioritize.

Anonymous wrote:Janney sent an email saying they didn’t have enough devices for everyone who asked for it.

Personally, I’d feel pretty shitty about myself if I asked for one and could easily afford not to.

That is not quite what they said. They said they do not have enough devices YET and will have more 9/7. They then suggested they have enough for everyone in 1-5 without a device and even have enough to give to some 3-5 students that only have access to a tablet. So it sounds like everyone except PK and K will have a device at the start. On 9/7 those working on tablets will get a laptop. No reason to feel bad about asking.

Janney sent an email saying they didn’t have enough devices for everyone who asked for it.

Personally, I’d feel pretty shitty about myself if I asked for one and could easily afford not to.

We did this because if we buy our own then my kid can goof off but the school ones are more limited in what they can access.

Anonymous wrote: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.

This! My school (charter) will provide technical support via phone for non-school devices for software/program issues but if it's a school issued device, they will easily swap it out. Several families that started with their own device ended up requesting a school device late after the initial ordering and distribution had been done.

To the OP and others with means, if you get a school device consider a donation to your school or PTA for families with needs. We've had families request desks, seating and supplies as they don't have a place for their kids to engage in online learning.

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.

Exactly.
Surrounding districts simply have pick up days. No one needs to prove hardship or feel like their school district is a charity case. You ALL need DCPS tech, that DCPS will support. Why is this so hard for you all to understand. ‘Doing your part’ is enrolling your kids into DC Public schools. Doing their part is giving your child what they need to learn. Are you now going to start purchasing your own math books and desks?

I asked our school if they had enough or if my taking one would potentially take away from families who need it more, and they confirmed that they had enough for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:Another teacher here. Totally agree with asking for DCPS device. DCPS will give you a device. It will have evrything loaded onto it. It also has the DCPS firewall. DS cannot access youtube. If it fails, it will give you support or another device. All students will have a device on the first day of school. You just need to be able to pick up the device next week.

Janney has 100 devices available for students not in 4th grade. More than 100 requested a device.

My school (Oyster Adams) sent out a message that they have enough devices for 50% of the students K-8.

Anonymous wrote:I asked if we should buy one and was told not to that our school was going to have a lot left over. I was very explicit that we can without hardship and didn’t want to take a device from someone in need, and was still told to use one from DCPS, so we are.

I had a similar conversation trying to find out if our older device would work. I was told that if we fill out the technology survey there will be enough devices for everyone.

Another teacher here. Totally agree with asking for DCPS device. DCPS will give you a device. It will have evrything loaded onto it. It also has the DCPS firewall. DS cannot access youtube. If it fails, it will give you support or another device. All students will have a device on the first day of school. You just need to be able to pick up the device next week.