6th through 12th grade are 1:1.  This means that they get to take the devices home.

K-5th grade devices are kept at school in carts, with enough devices to have 1 per student.

Online students keep their assigned device at home.

K-8th grade students use an Apple iPad.  The specific model (currently a range of 5th through 8th gen) varies by grade level.

9th-12th grade students use a MacBook Air. The specific model (currently a range of the 2018 through 2021 M1 model) varies by grade level.

Those schedules can be found here.

The iPad uses a plastic and case usually with a rubberized shell and screen protector.  MacBooks do not have a case but all students (prior to fall of 2022) have been issued a sleeve-style case to protect the MacBook when carried in a bookbag or left in a locker.  Students starting at Fall of 2022 and beyond will be issued a clamshell cover.  

We have set up a Shakopee App Store, shown on the device as Self Service.  Within the Self Service area users will find a selection of apps that have been specifically chosen for their grade level or subject area. 

Students are set up with an enterprise (school-managed) Apple ID.  This facilitates having an Apple Classroom account for each student so that staff can use Apple Classroom (particularly on iPads).  It also allows devices to back up data to iCloud, which can be useful in the event that a device needs to be replaced due to damage or defect.  The account does not work on the app store or and sort of ecommerce and does not support instant messaging through iMessage.  

As of the 2022/23 school year, the district will no longer offer device insurance. The district will maintain devices through a combination of capital projects levy funding and warranty agreements with the manufacturer.

The district will not cover damage or loss that occurs due to a dishonest, fraudulent, intentional, negligent or criminal act. Each family will be responsible for the full amount of any repair/replacement. Such acts include altering device software in any way that damages the device. It also includes repeatedly losing a device.

Let’s start with MacBooks. These are used from grades 9-12. The curriculum includes a number of classes that use products such as Adobe digital design software (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Lightroom, etc.). Other software is comparable on Mac and PC platforms, such as Microsoft Office, Google Apps, and programs related to assessment. PCs with comparable technical specifications (such as power, battery life, weight) can end up costing just as much as a MacBook. Chromebooks were also considered, and while they are less expensive they do not tend to hold up as well over time and would only handle a fraction of the software we use daily throughout the curriculum.

 

 

iPads are used in grades K-8 (and also show up in early childhood classrooms). The choice of iPads basically comes down to the wide variety of apps available and the ability to establish a common set of apps that fit the curriculum wile also being able to acquire apps for specific needs. An example would be GarageBand for music classes. The iPads have a reasonable price point, can make it through a school day when fully charged, and satisfy the majority of our curriculum-related needs.

 

For what we are doing in the district, the iPads and MacBooks meet the majority of our day to day curriculum needs. Still, we do maintain smaller fleets of PCs and Chromebooks for some specific needs where they may be better suited.

 

 

PCs: The majority of student contact with PCs occurs in classrooms using the Project Lead the Way curriculum. This program uses a highly specific set of software that is currently written primarily (but not exclusively) for PCs running Windows. It is likely that a larger portion of the Project Lead the Way curriculum will be available for MacBooks over the next few years, so the number of PCs in the district will start to decline as that happens.

 

 

Chromebooks: Chromebooks are fairly inexpensive and are a convenient device for word processing, typing practice, certain web-based activities, and standardized assessments. We will maintain a small fleet of Chromebooks for those purposes mostly throughout the K-8 buildings.

 

The short answer is no.  What we have pre-installed and available in self service is what we support.  Occasionally, the district will choose to make an accommodation or exception for a student based on a need identified through an IEP, due to a CAPS requirement, or as a result of a teacher recommendation.

No.  New devices are deployed at 2nd grade (iPad), 6th grade (iPad) and 9th grade (MacBook).  Our anticipated use/replacement cycle is 3-4 years for the iPads and 4 years for the MacBooks.  Kindergarten iPads are currently on a 5-year replacement cycle with those devices cycling back and forth between K and 1st grade.

Our process at this point is to try to keep a device with the same student as much as possible.

**Email typically has the fastest response time**

E-mail: parenthelp@shakopee.k12.mn.us 

Phone: (952) 697-8701

This is not a direct line, but you can leave a voicemail and we will get back to you. 

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