Introduction to Laptop Distribution in Broward Schools

The Broward County school district has announced plans to issue every student a laptop computer when they return to school on August 11. This move aims to provide students with equal access to digital resources, both at school and at home.
The decision has been welcomed by students and educators alike, with many believing it will help bridge the digital divide and ensure all students can reach their full potential.

Benefits of Laptop Distribution

“I’m excited for the opportunities that take-home devices will bring for our students,” said Landyn Spellberg, a junior at Western High in Davie and the student liaison to the Broward School Board. “I believe this will eliminate the current digital divide some students face and ensure that all students can reach their highest potential.” The district also plans to work with internet providers to ensure low-income families can get free or low-cost internet service at home.

Background and Previous Initiatives

The district last issued student laptops during the pandemic when learning went remote. Most Broward students kept the devices until at-home learning ended at the end of the 2020-21 school year. The district hasn’t issued laptops for students to take home since. Board member Jeff Holness brought up the idea to give students laptops during more normal times during a School Board meeting in February. “I think it’s really important that every single student in Broward County schools has access to a computer and to the internet,” Holness said at the meeting.

Implementation and Logistics

Superintendent Howard Hepburn is a former administrator in Palm Beach County, which started issuing Google Chromebooks during the pandemic and has continued to provide them ever since. “Students complete some assignments online using approved websites and applications that align with their grade level standards,” a Palm Beach County school district spokesman said. The Broward school district already has about 247,000 devices, which is enough to provide a device to all students attending district-run schools, Trey Davis, the district’s chief information officer, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. However, he said about 58,000 are too old to be under warranty and thousands more are nearing the end of their useful lives.

Addressing Previous Concerns

The decision to issue laptops comes just a year after the district decided to ban the use of another electronic device — the cellphone — during the school day, except during emergencies or when authorized by teachers. State law already bans cellphone use in class, but Broward is one of several in Florida that also bans their use during lunch, study halls, and class changes. The ban revealed another problem: students had a tough time accessing curriculum materials. If they needed to go online to review their assignments or turn in their school work, they often used their smartphones. Laptops may provide a solution to those problems.

How Laptops Will Enhance Learning

“Most of the learning now is occurring in a digital sense, so the process by which the students interact with other teachers is often digitalized,” Davis said. The laptops will enable students to conduct research, do homework, and take quizzes online while they’re at home or at school, students and school officials said. A major difference between these devices and smartphones will be more protection, Davis said. The district’s internet services are filtered so that students can’t access social media, messaging apps, or games, he said.

Parental Perspectives

Erin Gohl, a Fort Lauderdale parent, was a critic of the cellphone ban, saying it made it difficult for her high school son to communicate with her and get work done during lunch. She said the laptop maybe a good compromise. “I do feel that giving students their own laptop device addresses most of my concerns with the cellphone ban — as long as the policy allows students to utilize their computers during lunch time to access digital course content, email parents, or listen to music or an audiobook if they feel they need a quieter moment to decompress on a given day,” she said.

Conclusion

The distribution of laptops to Broward students marks a significant step towards ensuring all students have equal access to digital resources. By providing laptops and working to ensure low-income families have access to the internet, the district aims to bridge the digital divide and enhance learning opportunities for all students.

FAQs

• Q: When will the laptops be issued to students?
  • A: The laptops will be issued to students when they return to school on August 11.
• Q: Will the laptops be available for use at home?
  • A: Yes, the laptops will be available for students to use both at school and at home.
• Q: How will the district ensure low-income families have access to the internet?
  • A: The district plans to work with internet providers to ensure low-income families can get free or low-cost internet service at home.
• Q: What prompted the decision to issue laptops after banning cellphones?
  • A: The decision to issue laptops comes after realizing the need for students to access digital resources for their schoolwork, which was hindered by the cellphone ban.
• Q: How will the district protect students from accessing inappropriate content on the laptops?
  • A: The district’s internet services are filtered to prevent students from accessing social media, messaging apps, or games on the laptops.