Student Technology Program

Technology That Grows With Our Students

At Kirby School District 140, we believe students learn best when they have technology that matches their age, learning style, and classroom needs.

Our technology program provides students with the right device at the right time. Elementary school students use iPads to build foundational skills through interactive, hands-on learning. As students move into middle school, they transition to laptops that support research, writing, collaboration, and digital organization.

This approach helps prepare students for high school, college, and future careers while ensuring they have reliable technology throughout their time in our district.

Student Devices by Grade Level

Kindergarten through Grade 5
Device: iPad

Elementary students use iPads because they support the way young children learn best. Touchscreen technology encourages creativity, exploration, and active engagement while supporting literacy, math, and other core subjects.

Students use iPads for activities such as:

• Reading and literacy practice
• Math instruction
• Creative projects and presentations
• Interactive educational apps
• Photos, videos, and digital learning activities

Grades 6 through 8
Device: MacBook Neo

As students enter middle school, classroom expectations expand to include more research, writing, collaboration, and project-based learning. MacBook laptops provide the tools students need to complete these tasks efficiently while developing the technology skills they'll continue to use in high school and beyond.

Students use their laptops for:

• Research and online learning
• Writing and editing documents
• Presentations and multimedia projects
• Managing files and digital assignments
• Collaborating with classmates using online tools

Building Digital Literacy

Technology skills are an important part of every student's education. Throughout middle school, students learn how to organize files, manage digital assignments, work across multiple applications, and use technology responsibly. These experiences help prepare them for future academic and career success.

Keeping Technology Reliable

To provide students with reliable learning tools, the district replaces student devices every 3 years.

Replacing devices every three years allows us to:

• Keep technology current and reliable
• Minimize interruptions caused by repairs
• Ensure devices remain covered under the manufacturer's warranty
• Provide students and teachers with dependable tools for learning

Looking Ahead

Kirby School District 140 is committed to providing technology that enhances learning while being a responsible steward of district resources.

By matching devices to students' developmental needs and maintaining a consistent replacement schedule, we can provide engaging learning experiences today while preparing students with the digital skills they will need for the future.