Overview of Planning for

Computer Take Home Pilot

School Committee
January 19, 2017

Springfield Public Schools 2016-2017

Topics
Summary of planned take home pilot
Selection of schools for participation
Requirements for pilot schools
Take home fee for the pilot
Anticipated timeline

Springfield Public Schools 2016-2017

Summary
Between 3 and 6 schools will pilot allowing students to take
laptops home
There will be at least one pilot at the elementary, middle, and
high school levels
Each school will pilot with one or more grade levels
Pilots will run from February 27th through the end of the school
year
Data will be collected on the use of the devices, teacher and
student perceptions, as well as management of the devices

Springfield Public Schools 2016-2017

Selection of schools
Principals have self-identified if they are interested in
participating in the pilot
Academics and OITA are meeting with the Instructional
Leadership Team at each interested school and reviewing a series
of 23 planning questions on the following topics:

Instructional considerations
Implementation
Internet access outside school hours
Parent education and take home fees

Principals (and their ILTs) able to develop a working plan

responding to the 23 questions will move forward with piloting
Springfield Public Schools 2016-2017

Requirements of pilot schools

Meet with Academics and OITA to develop a computer take home
plan for the school
Designate a take home coordinator to facilitate the process (likely
the existing Technology Coordinator in most schools)
Schedule one or more parent meetings on take home, provide
training at those meetings (in partnership with OITA), and collect
technology take home fees
Take students who will participate in take home through Digital
Learner License modules provided by OITA
Implement the schools take home plan
Participate in data collection
activities to monitor progress of the
Springfield Public Schools 2016-2017
pilot

Plan for take home fee for

pilot
Purchase six-month insurance policies against theft/loss for only
those devices that are part of the pilot (estimated no more than
1,200 devices)
Collect $10 per student take home fee for those students
participating in the take home pilot (since the pilot is for a half
year)

Springfield Public Schools 2016-2017

Anticipated timeline
January
Prospective schools meet with OITA and Academics and develop school-level take home plans
Finish research on options for piloting at-home internet access
Procurement of insurance for those devices being taken home

February
Schools hold parent information/education meetings and collect take home fees
Students complete Digital Learner License modules
OITA re-images computers to an Assigned image for those computers that are part of the pilot

March - May
Schools implement their take home plan
OITA provides ongoing support and trouble-shooting
Data is collected on the types of assignments and homework being given to studentsw

June
Teachers and students in pilot schools are surveyed about their experience with the take home pilot
Data is analyzed on both instruction and the operational success of the pilots (how many devices lost, etc.)
Preliminary report to the School Committee on the computer take home pilot

July-August
Ongoing analysis of data from the pilot
Final report to the School Committee, with any recommendations for revisions to the policy
Decision-making regarding expansion of take home to additional interested schools

Springfield Public Schools 2016-2017