STARKVILLE — Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District received a grant through the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) to offer free Chromebooks to kindergarten through seventh grade Yellow Jacket families who do not have a device in their home.
The ECF grant program started through the Federal Communications Commission in 2021 as part of the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The district received confirmation of the grant this spring and has received 2,122 Chromebook devices to distribute during the 2024-2025 school year, representing approximately 75% of SOCSD student enrollment in kindergarten through seventh grade.
ECF devices are intended for educational purposes and must stay and be used primarily off campus in the home. The Chromebooks are preloaded with the same software and applications students use on devices issued at school to facilitate additional learning at home. Students may login to the ECF device as well as the Clever platform using the same credentials used at school to access learning resources. Although the district is not providing internet service for the devices, they do include the same internet safety filters used on school devices.
SOCSD will host a distribution day for ECF devices 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 21 at each kindergarten through seventh-grade school. Times per school may vary slightly. Stay tuned for additional information about school times. Distribution on August 21 will be located in the gym at West Elementary, Sudduth Elementary, Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary, Overstreet Elementary and Partnership Middle School.
In order to receive a Chromebook device, parents must complete a Google Form confirming they do not have a device at home that is adequate for educational use. School staff will assist parents in completing the Google form at school sites on August 21, or parents may complete the form in advance to expedite service. Links for forms for each school will be emailed to the district’s parent contacts.
Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is very excited to provide this opportunity for families to increase learning opportunities and computer use at home through distribution of these free Chromebook devices.
For more information or questions about the ECF devices and distribution, please contact Haley Montgomery, director of communications, at (662) 615-0021, (662) 312-4001 (cell) or [email protected].
What parents need to know:
■ ECF devices are free to families who confirm they do not have a device adequate for educational use at home.
■ ECF devices are available per student. Families can request multiple devices if they have multiple children enrolled in SOCSD.
■ Parents or guardians are responsible for repair and/or maintenance of the device. There is no warranty available for ECF devices.
■ ECF devices do not include internet service. Families should seek their own Internet Service Provider to use the device to connect to the internet.
■ ECF Chromebooks are preloaded with the same software and applications used by students at school.
■ Students may access applications, assignments and other learning resources used at school by logging into the device and Clever platform in the same way they do on school devices — using their school-issued email and password.
■ ECF devices are preloaded with an internet safety filter.
■ ECF devices are available on a first-come, first served basis.
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