Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District received a grant in 2024 through the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) to offer free Chromebooks to Yellow Jacket families who do not have a device in their home. The ECF grant is a program through the Federal Communications Commission begun in 2021 as part of the federal response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The district has approximately 300 Chromebook devices remaining in inventory and is making them available to incoming Kindergarten families on a first come, first served basis. Distribution of the devices will be available during Open House TOMORROW, July 17 at Sudduth Elementary and West Elementary.
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ECF devices are intended for educational purposes and must stay and be used primarily off campus in the home. The Chromebooks available to families are pre-loaded 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.
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 July 17, or parents may complete the form in advance to expedite service. Links to forms are listed below.
Application Forms:
West Elementary:
https://forms.gle/G55AeNBwWE5BTyxH6
Sudduth Elementary:
https://forms.gle/F5uUR1vrQyrLgNFc8
What Parents Need to Know:
- Students must be enrolled in Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District in order to be eligible to receive a device.
- Devices are currently ONLY being distributed to incoming kindergarten students for the 2025-2026 school year.
- ECF devices are FREE to families who confirm they do not have a device adequate for educational use at home.
- 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 pre-loaded with an internet safety filter.
- ECF devices are available on a first-come, first served basis.
- Parents should bring their ID in order to pick up a device.