Chomebook Program Closure Information
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Need a Chromebook or Hotspot for your student?
We are distributing Chromebooks to all students who lack an internet enabled device at home during the closure, please see the Extended Closure FAQ for information on Chromebooks and internet connectivity resources.
Need to know summer Chromebook plans?
- Class of 2020 Device Check-In: Each high school will be working with their seniors to collect their 1:1 Chromebooks before the end of the school year. Please keep an eye out for communications from your student’s schools on their specific process.
- Pre-K through 11th Grade Chromebook Retention: All students who have a Chromebook to support distance learning due to the school closures will keep their devices over the summer. The district will communicate with families in the fall on collection processes once traditional instruction resumes.
- Summer Withdrawal and Chromebook Support: If your student needs Chromebook support over the summer, please see the step and links below. Instructions will also be posted soon on how to return your Chromebook if you’re leaving the district.
Need Chromebook or Hotspot support during the closure?
Follow these steps:
- Review and try the steps on the Troubleshooting page
- If troubleshooting does not help or your Chromebook or Hotspot is damaged, fill out the Chromebook support request form | rellena el formulario de solicitud de asistencia de Chromebook
Translation Instructions for Chromebook Resources
What is the Future-Ready 1:1 Program?
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All middle school and high school students at NTPS have a Chromebook issued to them.
Starting the 2019-20 school year, all high school students will be assigned their own one-to-one (1:1) Chromebooks in protective cases. They will use the device throughout the school day to support learning and take it home for anytime, anywhere learning. Our middle school students have already been assigned their Chromebooks and the program's success allowed for rollout to high school students.
At this time, NTPS has no plans to pursue a 1:1 take home program at our elementary schools. We have been adding additional classroom-assigned Chromebooks to each grade level, starting with 5th grade during the 2018-19 school year. The district will continue to expand access to our elementary students as funding and capacity permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What happens if my student's device is lost, stolen, damaged, or doesn't work?
Need to request Chromebook support during the closure?
Please review the troubleshooting steps below BEFORE you submit a support request for your student device.
Visit the Chromebook Troubleshooting page
If your Chromebook is lost or stolen, see information on our Assurance Program
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Can my student use a personally owned device instead of a district chromebook?
District chromebooks are required to support daily instruction at our schools. They come preconfigured with all of the software, shortcuts, extensions, and plugins that your student needs to access their digital curriculum. Our teachers also use classroom management software that allows them to monitor and assist students only on district chromebooks. A district managed and secure device is also required to deliver online assessments such as EasyCBM, ELPA21, and SBAC.
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How do I connect to Wifi when I'm not at school?
Step by step instructions for connecting to outside Wifi when your student is not at school.
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Any tips for families on Chromebook use & Digital Literacy?
Common Sense media has great guides to help families understand and address digital literacy and citizenship issues relevant to secondary school students. Visit the Family Tip Sheets page on the District website.
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Help me use my Chromebook!
Unfamiliar with your Chromebook? Visit the District Chromebook Basics page for downloadable user guides about gestures, keyboard layout, and shortcuts to make using your Chromebook easy.
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What kind of power adapter do Chromebooks use?
Each student is issued one power adapter. The power adapter should remain at home and not be brough to school. To purchase extra ones, please visit the District website Chromebook page to see pictures and informational links to compatible power adapters.
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What is the NTPS Assurance Program?
The NTPS Assurance Program provides an inexpensive solution for parents/guardians to lessen the financial burden if an accident, loss, or theft occurs. Assurance Program enrollment will cover the current school year for a single device. Read more information on the District Chromebook Program pages.
NTPS Assurance Enrollment
$10 Annual Cost
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How is this program being paid for?
As good stewards of our financial resources, NTPS has invested in this program using existing funding already provided by the state and our local community.
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What about other NTPS schools?
At this time, NTPS has no plans to pursue a 1:1 take home program at our elementary schools. We have been adding additional classroom-assigned Chromebooks to each grade level, starting with 5th grade during the 2018-19 school year. The district will continue to expand access to our elementary students as funding and capacity permits.
During the COVID-19 extended closure, we are issuing Chromebooks to elementary students as requested by parents that may not have a device at home for their child to use.
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What can my child access on the device when it goes home?
Student safety on the internet is critically important for NTPS. All devices will have website filtering in place that will restrict harmful content anywhere the device is used. Digital citizenship resources will be provided to help families support their student(s) being safe and responsible on their devices outside of school.
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Why 1:1 at NTPS?
“All Students Empowered and Future-Ready” is our vision for North Thurston Public Schools. With our students growing up in an increasingly digital world, it’s essential that they have powerful digital learning tools coupled with strong digital citizenship instruction to participate in our 21st century society.
With this in mind, the Future-Ready 1:1 Program will ensure that all students will have equitable, safe, and reliable access to digital instructional tools to support learning anytime and anywhere.
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Where are the forms & agreements?
Visit the Forms & Agreements page for copies of all policies & information.
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Why chromebooks?
NTPS selected Chromebooks as our primary student device as a cost-effective solution to increase access to digital learning resources for our students. NTPS Chromebooks are semi-rugged, reliable, and secure devices that offer students and staff access to the internet as well as a strong suite of collaboration tools via Google Apps to support student achievement.
