Technology Shortage Hits Schools: As Remote Learning Jolts Demand for Chromebooks and iPads, Districts Warn Communities’ Needed Supplies Could Take Months
School districts that urgently require technology will likely face a delay. Superintendent Raymond Sanchez of the Ossining Union Free School District in New York informed the school board during a virtual meeting that there might be a five-month gap between ordering new technology and receiving it. He emphasized the need to begin the process of obtaining computers so that they are available when schools reopen.
According to a report from EdWeek, smaller districts in Massachusetts have reached out to Boston Public Schools to purchase technology as they have been unable to source it on their own. Lauren Guenveur, a senior research analyst for International Data Corp., predicts that the shortage of Chromebooks and iPads will be resolved by the end of June. She expects this to enable school districts to acquire the technology they need in time for the fall semester. The high demand for educational devices, especially Chromebooks, was triggered by the shift to at-home learning in the US in March and April. However, the supply was quickly depleted, and Guenveur anticipates continued high demand until July.
The scarcity of technology can be attributed to two main factors: consumers purchasing supplies for remote work and the surge in demand from schools. Furthermore, the supply chain issue in China, where most notebooks and tablets are sourced and shipped, has exacerbated the situation. The outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year led to the temporary closure of factories in China and a significant reduction in industrial output. However, as manufacturing capabilities in Chinese provinces approach 100 percent, supplies are expected to become available again in May.
Microsoft and Dell, the manufacturer of a popular Chromebook model, have not provided any information about their educational technology supply.
The size of a school district plays a role in its ability to acquire sufficient technology. Larger districts have greater purchasing power, which proves advantageous during periods of high demand. Smaller districts may have more success in sourcing technology through traditional consumer channels like Best Buy or Costco once consumer demand decreases.
Some of the largest school districts in the country, including Los Angeles Unified, New York, and Chicago, have already invested in new devices. Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth-largest district in the US, had anticipated the closure of schools and had an excess of 200,000 devices available for students. These devices, including phones with Wi-Fi connectivity, have facilitated distance learning for over 100,000 students. The district has no plans to acquire additional products as they have already taken steps to ensure students have the necessary digital tools for online learning.
Considering that the usual peak of school district purchases occurs in the second and third quarters, those in need of devices currently or in the coming months may face a waiting period.
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