REDLANDS, Calif. – Redlands Unified School District has launched a 1:1 Chromebook pilot program at Beattie Middle School, equipping each student with a personal device to enhance digital learning both in and out of the classroom.
The initiative is a key step toward the district’s RUSD 2025 Vision of providing "enhanced learning through innovation," ensuring students have consistent and reliable access to technology to better prepare them for college and career readiness, district spokesperson Christine Stephens said in a Feb. 3 press release.
Computers are "as essential as a pencil in today’s classrooms,” district leaders said, emphasizing the growing role of digital tools in students’ education.
Beattie sixth-grader Ethan Cook expressed enthusiasm for the program, citing its benefits in completing assignments and tests.
“I really like having my own Chromebook because it helps me complete my assignments and tests more easily,” Cook said. “It’s great to have access to it all year long.”
Cook also noted the device’s portability, which allows him to stay on top of schoolwork while traveling.
“When I went to a baseball tournament in Las Vegas, I was able to do my homework in the car on the way there. It was really helpful,” he said.
The pilot program builds on the district’s prior experience providing Chromebooks at the high school level and lessons learned during remote learning. Each Chromebook is checked out to students and taken home daily, ensuring continuous access to digital resources.
Jamie Cortz, the district’s director of innovation, technology, and accountability, highlighted the program’s role in promoting equitable access to education.
(Courtesy Redlands Unified)
“The key improvement is equity of access to technology,” Cortz said. “This will provide students equitable access to online materials such as textbooks, research databases, and Google Classroom.”
Before the program, Chromebooks were primarily available in classroom carts for core subjects, leaving elective classes with limited access. The 1:1 model now allows all teachers to integrate technology into their lessons.
Technology Services Manager Joshua Apmadoc emphasized the planning involved in transitioning to the new system, including a robust repair process to ensure students are not left without devices.
“We learned from 1:1 at RUSD high schools that if you have a stock of devices ready, you can build a repair process on the back end, so students are served immediately and don’t need to wait for their Chromebook to be repaired,” Apmadoc said. “We replace it immediately and shuffle broken devices into the RUSD Repair Depot, which constantly replenishes the site’s stock.”
