District Gears Up for Second Round of Device Distribution for Students

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Families need to submit an online request form by midnight on August 10; distribution will take place on August 14.

The Aldine Independent School District is providing Chromebooks to students that need one just in time for the first day of school, August 17.

The District’s re-entry plan, Return to Learn, has all students learning virtually from home for at least the first three weeks of the 2020-21 school year. Currently, Aldine’s plan allows a return to physical classrooms on Tuesday, September 8, if their parents or legal guardians have chosen the on-campus learning model. Students on the learning at home model will continue to receive virtual instruction.

Earlier this month, the District held the first round of device distribution targeting families that had chosen the learning at home option. To get technology in the hands of more students, Aldine ISD is hosting another learning device distribution event on August 14 geared to:

• families that selected Learning On Campus on the Commitment Form and have not already received a device, and
• families that received confirmation to pick up a loaner device on August 3 but did not attend (regardless of the reason).

If other children in the home have already checked out a learning device (e.g., Chromebook, laptop), the family is not eligible at this time. 

Families that do not have a personal device at home should consider requesting a device. Students learning on campus will need a device at home to complete assigned tasks online.

Aldine will contact families that selected Learning On Campus on Friday, August 7. They need to complete a Request for Technology Form online. The link to the form will remain open until midnight on Monday, August 10. Registration must be completed by midnight on Monday, August 10. Please note that at this time, we are limiting devices to one per family.

Families who received a confirmation email for the August 3 device distribution but were unable to pick up their device will receive a new confirmation email on August 12. These families do not need to complete the Request for Technology Device Form again.

“Aldine ISD is working hard to ensure students have access to learning tools during these unprecedented times. Earlier this month, we distributed almost 4,000 devices to students across the District,” said Chief Business and Operations Officer Dr. Tamika Alford-Stephens. “As we near the first day of school, we recognize that many of our families are still without technology to support student learning.”

Alford-Stephens noted that Aldine and other school districts are adapting to a “new” normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She added that AISD would continually monitor local health conditions and reassess as needed throughout the school year.

“Providing students access to a device before the start of the school year will help them complete assigned tasks online once schools open, but they will also have a smoother transition if we need to go to our online learning platform this school year,” Alford-Stephens said.

While the District is limiting devices to one per family, as more devices become available, additional distributions will take place.

Families without internet are encouraged to reach out to their cell phone and internet providers. Several cell phone service and internet providers are offering access to free internet for those who live in our community. The District has also compiled a list of known resources for Aldine ISD.

For more information about the District’s device distribution plan, please visit our Aldine ISD District Devices FAQs.

Important Information for Families

• If a parent or legal guardian did not receive an email regarding registering for a device, the District encourages them to update their contact information in the Home Access Center (HAC) to ensure AISD has their most updated information.

• Please be aware that a request does not guarantee that a family or student will receive a device. Those who have received confirmation emails are eligible to receive a device. A device has been allocated for them.

• Parents who miss the 8-14-2020 distribution date: If a parent or legal guardian misses their appointment time, they should work with their school leader to pick up a device. Their confirmation email identifies that they qualify for a device.

• Devices that are not picked up by families who received a confirmation email on August 14 will remain at the designated high school campus as the District anticipates that additional distributions will happen at the five sites.