Required laptops

[velochic]

I was wondering if anyone's kids are required to carry a laptop to and from school.  What have been your experiences?  How about damage?  Do you have insurance on them?  Do they have problems with the weight of them (and if so, do they use a roller bag?).  Things I need to know in advance?

[velochic]

Nobody?  Um... O.K.  Guess I'm solo on this.  I'm sure we'll figure it out.

[Alenushka]

My kids uses one in school per his request and it it is on his IEP.

No insurance . We jut bought a cheap one.  He has a neoprene sleeve and put it inside his backpack

[CarrieMF]

the kids don't bring their own laptops here, they are provided from the school. They stay at the school.  The kids are assigned one & they are responsible for it's care while they are using it, but they are used by all the kids in the school.

If we had to bring one ourselves, you bet there'd be insurance on them.  A laptop would be easy to steal.

[Alenushka]

You can get a laptop lock. Insurance costs do not always worth it. You can get a great machine for $300 now

[zebra15]

My son is homeschooled but he has his own laptop and it goes many places with him.  I've never had a problem with him and his laptop- he's had it going on 2 years now and hes going to be 11.

OP- If I remember correctly your child goes to a private school.  Many private schools around here provide electronics for students but hold the parents/students accountable for any damages (as do public schools).  Some schools require students and families to provide these on their own but with certain requirements so the students can all log on to the school server, everyone has the same operating system, the same word processor software etc.   

I would guess if your school is starting to require electronics they have a group buying plan, similar to uniforms where by xx/xx/xx date all orders must be in for $xxx.xx price type of thing from xyz company.

I do not have insurance on kiddo's laptop (or mine).  Kiddo has the same software as mine and the house has wireless.  Kiddo is able to go to the library with his laptop and has no problem getting on to the server there, same with the local sandwich shoppe/ Starbucks type place.  We both have laptop bags, I have a shoulder bag and DS has a backpack that is made for laptops.  I am due for a new battery but after 3 yrs that's not too bad.  I think I paid around $600 for mine and less than $350 for DS.  Mine was a price match at Best Buy and DS was a sale at Staples.

I also have a NookColor that has wireless as does my phone.  There is no shortage of internet capabilities around here.

Has the school given you any parameters for what they want?

Forgot to add, the electronics are covered under my renters policy.  I think it was an extra $10/year.  (This covers theft)  Both computers came with a 1 yr warranty from the manufacturer.

[velochic]

Thanks for the responses.  Zebra - you got it right.  And yes, we do have guidelines.  They are requiring Apple MacBooks.  She'll need it next year and we are saving now to buy it.  I hadn't thought to check and see if we could get a rider on our homeowner's insurance (or that it may already be covered), so that helps Zebra.  I will definitely look into that.

Right now I need to get dd a new backpack and was wanting something that would protect the laptop well.  A neoprene sleeve seems reasonable enough.  They are not allowed to leave them at school.  With the MacBook, the battery is integrated, so they have to bring it home to recharge every night.  So, on top of everything else she carts back and forth to school, this is going to add yet more weight, so we need to get a roller backpack, I think.  Any suggestions?

We actually bought a laptop for her a year ago, so were a little dismayed that this has come up.  However, my laptop is 7 years old (but still working... albeit slowly), so we're just going to hand down her laptop to me and she'll get the MacBook.  We don't have insurance on our current laptops, but the school is suggesting it, so I wasn't sure if it would be worth it.  I hadn't thought of all of the possibilities of what can happen to them, so thank you for your comment about it possibly being stolen, Carrie.

Again, thanks to all for your comments!!

[Triniity]

How old is your daughter? In terms of how much weight can she carry and how responsible would she be with it?

A laptop required for school?! Wow! Is this common? DD is still in kindergarten, we are not in the U.S. DD is allowed to play little educational games on the table computer, they are not allowed to touch my macbook - ever? (They killed two laptops, at least financially by taking the letters of - the repair would have been more expensive than a new laptop)

[Shantimama]

Wow, my ds is in high school and is not required to bring a laptop to and from school. The school understands that not every family can afford a computer and so has a system in place to ensure all students have fair computer and internet access and bussing after school. They certainly don't have the expectation that every child will have a $1000 personal laptop that will be lugged to and from school every day. Elementary aged school children certainly are not required to have a personal computer and the school also allows ample time for students who don't have computers at home to complete assignments in class or during breaks if absolutely necessary.

Does your daughter attend a private school?

[mar123]

A few of the private schools here require laptops, but the textbooks are loaded on them, so they actually have less to carry. No heavy books to cart back and forth! Also, at these schools it is part of the tuition.

[ollyoxenfree]

I also know a few private schools that have a universal laptop policy. They have group purchasing plans for better pricing, but it's not mandatory to participate. At ps, my dc have a few friends who have used personal laptops because of IEPs. I think they have used neoprene sleeves for protection and carried them in their backpacks. If you must invest in an expensive model, then insurance is a good idea. 

Roller backpacks can be clumsy and awkward. It's been a few years (my dc are in high school now), but I'm pretty sure that roller backpacks were not allowed at one middle school because they were considered a hazard in crowded hallways. Maybe they were allowed, but definitely there were complaints. They are also pretty much useless in snow and ice. Since the roller assembly adds weight, they were actually less functional during winter months than a regular backpack. I don't know what kind of weather you have, but it's a consideration.

[treeoflife3]

Why on earth would they require a macbook?  What's wrong with any other cheaper brand?

[LionessMom]

ds's school has a program in place where they provide every student with a laptop that they can use from 6th grade through graduation. they have to turn it in over the summer for upgrades and repair. the school carries insurance on all of them but the parents are required to pay for damages that are not covered, like replacing charge cords. they supply a padded carry case for them too. it cut down on the books he had to carry by half. so his bag is not loaded anymore. they ran into big problems the first year with unapproved internet access etc, so they had to restrict alot of stuff on them.

[mar123]

There are many more programs that run off of macs than Pcs. (I don't have a mac, but I was on a textbook adoption committee and this is what we were told)

[Drummer's Wife]

I think it's odd that they are requiring a Mac.  Also, can they not leave the laptops at school, then?  I would have just got a cheapie $200 ish netbook if it were my kid... but I guess that's not good enough for that particular school.  Many schools (usually middle, high, and colleges) only use Mac's, but, they are bought by the school and remain in the labs/classrooms.

Are you thinking about a macbook air? That would be light enough and small enough to fit in the laptop sleeve most higher quality backpacks have.  My DS has a nice OGIO brand bag that would adequately protect a laptop.  It doesn't roll, though. Even my cheaper LL Bean messenger bag has a spot for a laptop. I'm not sure what extra weight you are talking about - the batteries last many hours, so a charger/cord wouldn't even be needed at school. The macbook air is lightweight - less than many textbooks.

[velochic]

Drummer's Wife... dd's backpack is already heavy without the computer.  She takes her lunch in a stainless steel lunchbox has a water bottle (and the water adds weight), gym clothes, and all of the rest of her school work.  The extra weight I'm talking about is the computer itself adding to her already heavy backpack.  I will check out that link.  Thank you!

Yes, the MacBook is required (I asked about an iPad and they said it's not powerful enough to do what they plan, but have not asked about a MacBook air).  Yes, it's private school.  Yes, we buy the machine and the child owns it and keeps it (over the summer, etc.).  It's not part of tuition but is required.  They want to go with one platform and have a standard set of software that will be installed by the school (yes Lioness, there will be some restrictions, but as this is new, dh and I *are* curious how they are going to enforce that).

Thanks again, all.

[CarrieMF]

theft is the main reason I suggested the insurance would be a good idea.  

I get the use of macs in schools.  There are so many educational apps that they can get.  Our division had ipods that the classes can sign out & a couple of ipads.  They have netbooks for all schools & compared to a mac they suck.  for school use there is just no comparison.

apple always has back to school deals for students.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by CarrieMF 

theft is the main reason I suggested the insurance would be a good idea.  

I get the use of macs in schools.  There are so many educational apps that they can get.  Our division had ipods that the classes can sign out & a couple of ipads.  They have netbooks for all schools & compared to a mac they suck.  for school use there is just no comparison.

apple always has back to school deals for students.

Thanks Carrie.  So it sounds like it is best to wait until the beginning of school next year to purchase.  That works out well, anyway.  We're going to put a little back each month for it with dd participating.  We want her to not think of it as just another pad of paper in her backpack, but to realize it's an expensive piece of equipment that's going to need additional TLC.  We won't be buying it anytime soon, anyway.  It's not required yet (she's in 4th) but they suggest it for this year.  We're um... ignoring their suggestion at this time and will wait until it's required.

[Drummer's Wife]

Oh, I didn't think of all the other stuff she has to bring. Duh, sorry! My kids are in Montessori and dont bring textbooks, gym clothes, or lunches most days, so they only have a folder or binder to cart around. A rolling bag would be good, im thinking, but make sure the school allows them (I guess some don't).

[LionessMom]

since you own it and stuff, you should think about a parental program to monitor and restrict certain activities.