Windows, Chrome? Not in Kansas anymore

Kansas City Public Schools have inked a huge MacBook Neo deal to replace 30,000 Windows and Chrome devices with Apple’s powerful and affordable low cost Mac. It means the area becomes an all-Apple district.

What Kansas says it’s doing

This news was first reported during Apple’s recent earnings call, but the district has now explained the extent of the deal:

“As our enrollment rates continue to rise, district leadership is investing in student technologies that meet the needs of today and grow alongside the needs of the future,” they say.

“Over time, we will replace more than 30,000 Windows PC and Chromebooks with the more secure, durable, and reliable Apple devices. Already, 4,500+ MacBook Neos have been procured for students in 8th grade and up, while lower grades have access to the district’s existing iPads and MacBook Airs.”

This is important, of course, because Apple has been shedding its leadership in US education for some time. Chromebooks and cheap Windows laptops have eaten away at Apple’s share in the crucial US education market. Apple’s response to this comes n the form of a $499 MacBook Neo, which is a far more powerful and capable computer than the systems it seeks to replace.

Better outcomes with better tech

Ever since the iMac we’ve known there’s a direct relationship between student achievement and the tools they use. To optimize student attainment, it makes sense to provision them with the solutions they want to use on the principle that things students actually want to use will get used more, boosting learning outcomes. Digital natives, today’s kids know when the tech they’re given’s no good.

It’s not in Kansas anymore, as the move to Apple means, “Students are now proud of their schools because they have the best products,” said KCPS Chief Technology Officer Scott Jones. I fully anticipate Apple will see more big wins like this on the back of what remains today the most popular laptop on Amazon.

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