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TESD chooses mixed device strategy for 2025–26 1‑to‑1 program, forecasting $230,000 savings
Summary
The district will purchase iPads for elementary students, Chromebooks for middle school, and 14‑inch Dell laptops for high school next year; the option is expected to save about $230,000 versus an all‑Dell replacement plan. The district will also buy Securely software for parent controls.
The Tredyffrin‑Easttown School District's education committee reported May 22 and briefed the board May 27 on a decision for the cyclical replacement of 1‑to‑1 student devices. Factors cited included changes in Dell's product line and volatility in national computer prices.
After studying options, the committee supported a mixed‑device approach for the 2025–26 replacement cycle: iPads at the elementary level, Chromebooks for middle schools, and Dell 14‑inch laptops for high school students. The administration said this option saves approximately $230,000 next year compared with using only Dell products for all grades, while providing a larger screen on high school devices to accommodate electronic state and AP testing.
The district will also purchase a cloud‑based product called Securely to provide parents an app enabling customization of their child's device use outside school. Officials said Securely will be purchased over the summer and deployed in the 2025–26 school year.
Separately, the committee reviewed assessment pilots and benchmark results: benchmark testing showed fourth‑grade spring results with 87 percent of students making strong progress without need for targeted or intensive instruction — an improvement over earlier pandemic cohorts. The committee also reviewed a pilot assessment platform called Firefly used this year as a PSSA practice tool. The committee's report noted teacher training and assessment materials are available on the district website for review.
