K12 Laptop Purchasing Guide
Provided by the Office of Media & Instructional Technology
SY 18-19 Edition
In This Guide
- Plan
- About K12 Pricing
- Price Comparison
- Classroom Cart Breakdown
- Teacher & Admin Device Breakdown
PLAN
Before you make a purchase, be sure to have given some thought about why you want to purchase devices for your school, and how you will support the technology and the people using it.
For helpful planning tools, check out ISTE's Essential Conditions as you consider leveraging technology for learning.
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Chromebooks and G. Suite
A Chromebook is a laptop of a different breed. Instead of Windows 10 or macOS, Chromebooks run Google's Chrome OS. These machines are designed to be used primarily while connected to the Internet, with most applications and documents living in the cloud. Google Chromebooks are now available for purchase in K12buy.
Chromebooks are accessed with a Google G. Suite account set up by the district. All staff and students have a G. Suite account within the BCPSS.org domain. This means that all accounts are connected, and teachers and students can begin working and collaborating with each other immediately.
*Before adding these devices to your school, consider how a non-Windows device may impact learning and what training and support might be needed.
FAQs
Can we test on a Chromebook?
YES! Chromebooks currently support these testing applications:
- PARCC, iReady, ANet, Maryland MSA/HSA, and WIDA (untested).
- NNAT2 IS NOT SUPPORTED, but NNAT3 will be when it's released.
- See the Testing page for more information.
Can Chromebooks work without the internet?
Chromebooks are designed to rely heavily on the Internet, which means that many apps simply won't work if you're out of Wi-Fi range. There are more than 200 offline Chrome apps that can work without Internet connectivity, including Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Google Drive, and tons of the Android apps coming soon will also work offline.
Can I Open and Edit Office Documents on a Chromebook?
Yes, Google's suite of tools can open and edit Office documents. Additionally, because Office's 365 suite is web-based, staff and students can access these accounts as well.
about k12 pricing
Why is the price higher in K12 Buy than Amazon/Bestbuy?
Devices bundled in our vendor contract come with additional products and services which are typically not included when purchasing outside of the contract.
Warranty
Services
Support
• Extended warranty
• Installation
• Windows License or Google Domain License
• Imaging (adds district-licensed software to Windows devices)
• Enrollment (connects Chromebooks devices to domain)
• Device tracking
• GoGuardian Classroom Management software (Chromebooks)
• Supported by ITD
Price comparison
CLICK HERE for the latest pricing.
*Already have building-wide wifi? You can save money on a cart by requesting a quote without the included wireless access point.
Classroom Cart Breakdown
Top Picks
These three laptop carts provide options that fit the needs of students, as well as the budget.
From powerful computing for advanced CTE software applications, to our low-priced devices with the streamlined Chromebooks, schools now have more options than ever before to equip classrooms with the tools necessary to prepare our students for 21st-century learning.
Media & Tech's Top Student Pick: The Chromebook 300E.
We like this device for several reasons. First, the price. Second, the ease of use outweighs potential pains with learning a new operating system. Lastly, the shear simplicity of running PARCC, pushing out and installing student apps, touch-screen capabilities for student engagement, and online classroom management software for teachers makes this device a slam-dunk for classrooms throughout the district.
Teacher & Admin device breakdown
Media & Tech's Top Teacher Pick: The Yoga 11e
Like the Chromebook for students, the Yoga 11e has a great, low price. The computing power, space, and RAM will provide the average teacher plenty of functionality for everyday classroom use. This device has been around for a while, and has received positive feedback.
