New laptop distribution plan for DCPS students begins today

Jacksonville FL — Starting Wednesday, Duval Public Schools says they will start their new laptop distribution plan giving students who don't have access to a computer a laptop to do their school work. Last week the Florida Department of Education closed all K-12 school campuses through at least April 15th to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

DCPS says parents will be limited to two laptops per family with multiple students. They say if your child has access to a computer then you should not check out a school laptop and if you have multiple children then you should plan on sharing a computer.

There will be 10 locations where you can pick up a laptop:

• Ed White High School
• Duncan U. Fletcher High School
• Mandarin High School
• Jean Ribault High School
• Robert E. Lee High School
• First Coast High School
• Jefferson Davis Middle School.
• Kernan Middle School
• LaVilla Middle School
• Mandarin Middle School

DCPS says when picking up a laptop, students must be present and they must have a student ID showing they are enrolled. Elementary and middle school students must have a parent to pick up the computers.

The district says there is a schedule to picking up laptops. Beginning on Wednesday,  students with last names that begin with A through D can start to pick them up. High school students will come by between 1PM and 2PM, middle school students between 2PM and 3PM, elementary students between 3PM and 4PM, then from 4PM to 5PM any students with a last name that starts between A through D can stop by and pick up a laptop who hasn’t picked one up yet.

Thursday, the district says students with last names that begin with E through O can pick up laptops. High school students are scheduled between 8AM to 10AM, middle school students between 11AM and 1PM, elementary students between 1PM and 3PM and finally between 3PM and 5PM E through O students who didn’t already get a computer can pick one up.

Friday students with last names that begin with P through Z can stop by to get a laptop. DCPS says the schedule for Friday is the same as Thursday’s schedule. Saturday the district says any student who hasn’t received a laptop yet can pick one up between 9AM and Noon.

DCPS says families are responsible for all the technology that’s checked out and if its not returned then those families will be financially liable to pay for the laptop. They say, if you need to get a device, be prepared to wait because the check out process takes time. In addition, DCPS says starting Thursday, lunch will not be served at laptop distribution sites on Thursday or Friday to help ease demand and traffic congestion. The district says lunch will instead be given out at alternative locations.

For more information you can visit the district's website here.