School System Finds Money to Revive Part of Google Chromebook Rollout

MCPS had originally said the rest of the program would be delayed because of budget constraints

August 24, 2015 5:33 p.m.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will continue buying Google Chromebooks for classroom use despite announcing in June that it had to delay the initiative because of budget constraints.

School system spokesperson Dana Tofig said that MCPS found money for more Chromebooks by repurposing funds in the capital budget meant to replace desktop computers for staff.

With $53 million less than desired for operating costs during the 2015-2016 school year, MCPS initially said it would not proceed with phase two of the Chromebook rollout to save roughly $3 million.

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Now, the school system will go through with some of phase two, providing Chromebooks to all fourth grade classrooms and about 150 seventh grade classrooms.

The hope was to bring Chromebooks to all fourth, fifth and seventh grade classrooms in the upcoming school year, as well as to students in a second high school subject.

Last year, MCPS started the technology initiative by providing Chromebooks to all third, fifth and sixth grade classrooms, plus high school social studies classes. Tofig said MCPS will give high school principals the flexibility to use their existing Chromebooks for more than just social studies classes during the 2015-2016 school year.

MCPS Tech Mod Program Changes

When the Board of Education approved buying 40,000 Chromebooks last summer, it was believed to be the country’s largest public education computing initiative featuring the relatively inexpensive laptops.

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The $15 million cost for phase one of the rollout provided the Chromebooks for classroom use only. The school system’s technology initiative also included Google Apps for Education on the Chromebooks, a set of word processing programs, email and other functions for projects and interactive lessons with teachers.

While some parents worried about privacy and security issues, the first phase of the initiative appeared to garner support.

In June, when MCPS announced it would be cutting phase two of the Chromebook rollout, Bethesda parent Jim Wrathall started an online petition in support of phase two that has 1,162 supporters.

The 2015-2016 MCPS school year starts Monday.

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