PRSD Chromebook Initiative

Q: Why a Chromebook?

Chromebooks are fully compatible with our G-suite (Google Apps for Education) cloud-based set of digital tools and resources, which we (staff and students) are using to collaborate, communicate, create and foster critical thinking. They are cost-effective from both a financial and technical support point of view. The portability allows for them to be carried and used almost anywhere that there is a wifi signal, even at home.

If you are currently enrolled as a Pentucket School District Middle School Student, then you are eligible to receive a Chromebook as part of this initiative. Home School students are not eligible.

- No, you do not have to take one of the school-issued Chromebooks. It is our hope that both students and parents will recognize and take advantage of a device that will help them with learning, both in the classroom and at home. Chromebooks, combined with Google Apps for Education (G-Suite), will allow teachers to use instructional approaches such as blended learning and project-based learning to engage students and extend learning experiences into the global community. The Chromebooks will become one of the tools to help support critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and research in our classrooms. While other devices may be suitable for learning, a PRSD-managed Chromebook will provide a learning environment specifically tailored to our Middle School students.

- You can bring your own device, but you we do not support connecting or troubleshooting personal devices.

- Since the School-owned Chromebooks are set to only allow students to log in with their school accounts, and because these devices are filtered in order to be CIPA-compliant, having a personally-owned device will allow your student to log in with a personal account, surf the web more freely, play games, etc.

- Yes. We will not be collecting these Chromebooks for summer storage, but we encourage you to ensure that they are safely stored. You can continue to use them for educational enrichment.

- Over time we hope to transition to digital textbooks and other online resources as new textbooks and curriculum resources are adopted. The Chromebook is an invaluable tool for easy access to these resources.

Students who receive a chromebook in grade 7 (or upon entering the district after grade 7), will have use of their device until graduation. At the end of grade 12 -- or upon departure from the district if beforehand, chromebooks must be turned in to the MSHS Main Office.

- Due to the large number of Chromebooks that PRSD is offering to students, and the fact that you are free to use it whenever and wherever you like, an insurance option can protect you from potentially incurring a sizable repair / replacement charge and allow us to continue offering this program. It is completely optional. But be aware that if your student's chromebook is damaged and you do not have insurance, it will be your responsibility to repair the device -- or pay the district's cost to repair the device. If the device is lost, depending on when the loss occurs -- you may receive a bill for replacement.

- Yes, you can buy the insurance at any time, and coverage will begin after your transaction is processed by the insurance company. As with any type of insurance, the Chromebook must be in good working order with no visible items that need immediate repair.

Please send an email to Chromebook_Questions@prsd.org and we will be happy to help.