Last-minute student laptop change leaves Memphis parents, teachers scrambling

Memphis parents and educators were taken aback last month when White Station High School began the school year without students receiving their usual personal laptops or tablets. The apparent change has caused confusion and scrambling to adjust classroom instruction. School Principal Carrye Holland announced that the school was shifting away from a heavily technology-based curriculum due to the inability to assign each student a device.

The district now plans to "focus less on technology" as it cannot provide devices for all students moving forward.

The district's decision comes after a $45 million plan to provide every student with a free device using federal COVID relief funding in June 2020. On the first day of school that year, 80% of students used their personal devices for virtual classes. However, the district is now evaluating whether the traditional model remains the most effective and responsible way to allocate resources.

White Station's change is not limited to this single school; it's unclear how many schools are affected by the shift. The district has over 300,000 devices available, but rising equipment and repair costs have prompted the district to reconsider its approach. Additionally, the district is facing national calls to reduce student access to technology and a new state law requiring clear technology policies for elementary schools.

While the district claims students will still have access to technology for online testing and virtual classwork, some parents and teachers remain concerned. Sarah Hadskey, a parent of a ninth grader at White Station, expressed worries about online testing and access to digital materials for students without devices at home. She noted that classrooms are now "returning to pencil and paper" due to the policy change, and many teachers lack sufficient printed resources for their students.

Hadskey also pointed out that some students had to bring their own devices for an online test last week when none were available from the school. She has concerns about how the change may affect state test scores during a period when Memphis-Shelby County Schools are already under increased scrutiny for academic performance.