Even before the pandemic forced the shutdown of in-person schooling around the nation, K–12 districts were beginning to explore — and in many cases implement — one-to-one device programs for their students. Once COVID-19 reached the U.S., those programs quickly evolved from what seemed like a luxury to a necessity.
As an estimated 77 percent of public schools around the nation switched to remote learning, manufacturers struggled to keep pace with demand. On average, devices procured for education settings have an average lifespan of about three to five years, depending on the device type and…