MacBook 1:1 Technology Policy
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions. If you do not find your answer to your question here, feel free to contact your school principal, or call us at 601.825.TECH.
What grades and schools will receive laptops?
All students in grades 7-12 receive laptops.
Is there a cost to parents whose child receives a laptop associated with the 1:1 initiative?
There is a required annual fee for usage of $50.
Can anyone other than the student use his/her laptop?
Each student will be assigned an individual username and password. Parents are encouraged to access their child’s account and monitor their child’s usage and progress.
Will students keep the laptops over summer break?
Yes, if they pay the $50 usage fee prior to the end of the current school year.
What training is available for parents who are unfamiliar with the laptop?
There will be a required orientation session that will help to ensure parents are educated for proper use of the laptop.
Will parents need to purchase additional items for the laptop?
No.
What if the laptop stops working at home (after school hours)?
RCSD students will need to bring the laptop to the school’s help desk during school hours.
What will be the consequences for misuse or inappropriate use of the laptop?
Details are provided in our Technology Student Handbook.
Will students carry fewer textbooks once they have laptops?
Yes. Teachers will increasingly begin to use digital content for instruction and assignments.
What filter(s) are in place to protect students from visiting harmful websites?
RCSD laptops utilize the Lightspeed filter software. Students will have the same filtering protection at home as they do at school with the addition of social media access (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
If a student has a personal laptop can they use that in place of a district issued laptop?
No. The goal of the 1:1 initiative is to provide every student with the same device. The district is not able to provide support or install software on personal devices; therefore the use of personal devices is not a viable alternative to a district provided device.
Can a student change their password?
No. If the student forgets their password their teacher will be able to tell them what it is once school starts. If their password gets compromised in any way the student will contact the student tech team who will get an RCSD authorized technician to change it.
In the Orientation Session I setup a Canvas Observer account. Can I link my other students to this same account?
Yes. There are directions here on how to link multiple children to the same parent observer account.
I downloaded the Canvas app for my smartphone but it is asking for the URL to my institution's Canvas. What is the URL?
http://rankin.instructure.com
How do I navigate Canvas as an Observer in my child's account?
Click here for the Canvas Observer Guide
Microsoft Office is not installed on my MacBook Air. How can I install it?
Open the Self Service application on your dock. Click on either Featured or Applications on the right side menu. Click the Install button. It will take at least one hour to install Office on your laptop so please leave it on, with the lid open and connected to the Internet until it is finished. It will not appear to be doing anything while it installs but the installer is working "behind the scenes". You will know it will know it is complete when the Word, PowerPoint, and Excel icons appear on your dock.
If my student withdraws from Rankin County Schools will I receive a refund of the $50 laptop usage fee?
If the student has paid the fee but withdraws from school they will turn in their Macbook Air and receive a full refund if they were enrolled for 30 calendar days or less. If the student was enrolled between 31 and 60 calendar days they will receive a refund of $25 once they turn in their Macbook Air. Any student that has been enrolled 61 calendar days or more will not receive a refund of the laptop usage fee.