Learn More About EquippED, Fort Bend ISD's 1:1 Initiative

Fort Bend ISD’s 1:1 EquippED laptop initiative supplies each student in grades 6 -12 with their own laptop for use during class time and at home.

Students in middle and high school will no longer use laptops from classroom carts which often resulted in multiple students sharing one laptop. The EquippED 1:1 program ensures that all students have individual equal access to needed technology, learning materials, and real-time engagement in classroom activities.

Also, the State of Texas requires students to take the STAAR and TELPAS exams using a district-owned device only. Regularly using a FBISD laptop ensures students are comfortably familiar with the required device and technology at testing times.

By issuing all students a similar laptop, the district hopes to make technology access and learning opportunities equitable. This extends learning beyond the school day and expands opportunities for collaboration.
 

All 6th-12th grade students enrolled in FBISD will participate in the EquippED 1:1 program and be issued a laptop.
 

There is no cost for the laptop. However, the student’s primary guardian will be responsible for any costs associated with laptop damage, loss, or theft. There is an optional insurance plan that the student can get to cover damage and loss. 
 

There are several factors that led to the creation of the EquippED 1:1 program. A few of them include: 

• Providing uniform access to the many digital resources provided to students by FBISD including online textbooks, Schoology, Microsoft 365 tools, and many others
• Ensuring every student in each class has their own laptop for use during instruction
• The State of Texas requires students to take the STAAR and TELPAS exams using a district-owned device
• The PSAT, SAT, ACT, and many AP exams are now delivered exclusively online
• Teachers have been requesting a 1:1 program for years because it creates a very equitable and predictable digital landscape within their classroom
• It is less expensive to the FBISD taxpayer compared to classroom sets of laptops
• It more closely mirrors the experience students will have in college, career, military, etc.

No, all 6th – 12th grade students will be issued a FBISD laptop. This creates a uniform digital landscape for teachers, allowing them to plan lessons and experiences without having to consider issues like device compatibility, permissions, and software variations. 
 

Yes, and they will be expected to bring their laptop to school every day fully charged. They should also bring their charger, just in case. Their laptop will be their tool to access textbooks and assignments and is easier than times past when students were required to bring several textbooks to and from school every day.
 

Students will be expected to bring their laptop fully charged, but they should also bring their laptop’s charger with them each day. Classrooms will be equipped with locations for plugging in some laptops for charging.
 

Campuses will have a small supply of “Day Use” laptops that can be checked out and returned at the end of the day. Repeated incidents of forgotten laptops may result in disciplinary actions.

However, day-use laptops are limited, and availability is not guaranteed. Students should bring their assigned laptop to school each day fully charged and ready for instruction.

Yes, the EquippED laptops are much faster computers and have double the memory of the current classroom laptops provided on carts. Additionally, the EquippED laptops have a full HD 14” monitor which is larger than existing classroom laptops. They are also thinner, lighter, and have a longer battery life.
 

The laptops provided through the EquippED Program are Dell Latitude 3450 models or Dell PRO 14 (PRO 14250).

• Windows 11  
• 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U (10 core, 12 MB Cache, 4.6GHz Max Clock)  
• 16GB Dual Channel DDR5 5200 MT/s RAM  
• 256GB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD  
• 14” FHD (1920x1080) 300 nits Touchscreen Display  
• HD Webcam and IR Cam (Supports Facial Recognition Login)  
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• 54 Wh Battery with Express Charge 
• 65W USB-C Charger

No, FBISD students will keep their laptops over the summer for use with summer school, summer programs, continued learning, or other academic activities. Students will continue to use the same device each year.
 

Campuses will communicate their individual distribution plans in back-to-school communications in July or August, and all students will be issued their laptop at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.
 

A student must turn in their laptop for any of the following reasons:  

• At the request of an authorized FBISD employee  
• A student withdraws from FBISD  
• A student begins 9th grade (they will exchange the laptop they used in middle school for a new laptop in high school)  
• A student graduates or otherwise exits FBISD  

A student transferring to another school within FBISD will be allowed to take their laptop to their new FBISD school.

Purchasing laptops for each secondary student in FBISD costs $30 million. The district was recently awarded a $17.6 million Federal Grant which allows it to cover most of the cost. By taking advantage of this grant, the district can reserve $17.6 million in 2023 Bond Proposition B (for technology) funding and save the money for future student technology needs.
 

Elementary students are not assigned individual laptops through the 1:1 EquippED Program. They will continue using the Classroom Toolkit model, with shared laptop or iPad carts available in their classrooms.

Each cart will receive eight additional laptops, bringing the total to 20 devices per cart. This will reduce device sharing and provide campuses with additional devices for state-required testing.

In the 1:1 EquippED Program, secondary students in grades 6–12 are assigned a laptop for long-term use while enrolled in FBISD.

At Elementary Schools, the Lending Library Program provides short-term access. Students may check out a laptop or iPad for up to two weeks, similar to borrowing a library book. These devices are intended for temporary at-home use, such as completing special projects, and are not assigned for long-term use.

Many of the student laptops at the district’s elementary, middle, and high schools have reached the end of their useful life. These laptops will be wiped of data and auctioned off or recycled in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

Secondary school laptops that are still in good condition will be placed in elementary schools.

Many special education students already have a purpose-built device appropriate for their specific needs. Others may not benefit from a device they have to transport each day. Special Education classrooms will continue to have carts with shared devices that best meet the current needs of students in that classroom.
 

No, the 1:1 EquippED laptops do not have built in cellular data and students will need to seek their own means of internet access when not at school. Families that qualify can also apply for internet discounts.

All 1:1 EquippED laptops automatically route all internet traffic through the FBISD filters and firewalls regardless of where the device is being used and how it is connected to the internet, so students will still be protected from harmful content. Additionally, each laptop will have industry leading end point software to protect against viruses, malware, or malicious use. All internet activity on the district owned laptops will be monitored both on and off campus.

✅ Yes. However, day-use laptops are limited, and availability is not guaranteed. Students should bring their assigned laptop to school each day fully charged and ready for instruction.