1:1 Chromebooks

Since rolling out 1:1 Chromebooks, the Olympia School District Technology Department has used the voter-approved Technology Levy to establish and maintain sustainable replacement cycles, ensuring student devices remain reliable, secure, and up to date. This long-term planning allows the district to keep pace with instructional needs while maintaining devices in good working condition for students and staff.

The passage of the 2018 Technology and Safety Replacement Levy laid the foundation for providing students with consistent access to a computing device that can be used daily, both at school and at home, to support learning. Chromebooks are now an essential instructional tool that supports higher-level thinking, student engagement, and preparation for life after graduation.

While Chromebooks are the vehicle for the district’s 1:1 initiative, effective classroom instruction remains the driver. The focus of student learning is not on the technology itself, but on developing critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration skills. The district strives to create an environment that promotes equity, access to information and resources, innovation, and student ownership of learning.

Implementation of the 1:1 Chromebook program occurred in phases, beginning at the secondary level and expanding over time to include all grade levels. Shared devices continue to be used in some instructional settings, while most students are now supported through a district-owned Chromebook program.

Today, Olympia School District maintains a fully implemented 1:1 Chromebook initiative supported by ongoing Technology Levy funding. This funding allows the Technology Department to refresh devices on a predictable cycle and ensure equitable, reliable access to technology for all students.