iPad2 16GB WiFi only.  In addition, each iPad will come with:

●     $50-$100 of Applications (retail cost)

●     3yrs of Apple Care ($99)

●     3yrs of transferable Insurance ($124 w/ $50 deductible)

●     Meyer Academy IT Technical Support of the device

Accidental ‐ includes drops/liquid spills, Liquid Submersion, Theft, Fire/Flood, Damage, Vandalism, Natural Disasters, and Power Surge due to lightning

Note: This is not a warranty. It DOES NOT cover mechanical/electrical breakdowns, wear/tear or losing the item.

Meyer IT will not be able to support devices that do not belong to the school (this includes home computers, personal iPads, etc).

All students will receive their iPads during the first week of school in August of 2011.  Students must bring their iPad2 case/cover with them in order to pick up their iPad.

Yes. We will begin the school year with some training sessions and continue them through the year. We will also be holding some parent education events. We feel that training for faculty, students and families is critical to the success of this initiative.

Yes, absolutely! The full benefits of the program can only be realized if students can use these devices both at school and at home.

Yes. However, we may want to update software and perform other maintenance and may ask that iPads be turned in to the technology department for a short time. All leased iPads must be returned to the school prior to the summer break.  They will remain at the school over the summer and be reassigned to students the following school year.

The short answer is no... the benefits of a tool like this can only be achieved if the tool is ubiquitous.

Students may purchase an iPad independently, but they must have full-time access to it, they will be required to purchase a platform of mandatory applications. They will be solely   responsible for all insurance and/or issues and problems.  The Meyer Academy IT department will not be available to students who purchase their device independently.

Will students who choose to opt out of the program, and purchase their own iPad, be able to install the applications that the school requires? Would there be a cost for that? If so, how much?

Yes, students/parents will be able to purchase the necessary applications at their full retail prices from the iTunes App Store. The cost of these applications will be the responsibility of the student/parents. Full retail cost of the initial applications provided by Meyer will be between $50-$100.

We think it's a good idea that each student use some kind of a protective cover for his or her iPad. The student/parent will need to purchase this.  There are very nice covers sold at the Apple store or online at Apple.com.  Less expensive versions of these are also sold at Radio Shack, flea markets, and office stores such as Best Buy.  There are also case/keyboard attachments available.  Students will be required to bring their iPad2 case/cover with them in order to pick up their iPad.

Will there be financial assistance for families who need it to pay for an iPad?

Families who need financial assistance should reach out to Marjorie Perez, CFO.  The Meyer Academy will make every attempt to help those families with the cost of leasing the device.

Yes, we'll be hosting parent education events at the start of next school year and will also publish resources online.

Yes, the students may download their own Apps on their  iPad, as long the Apps follow the moral and ethical views of our Meyer Academy community.  The students must also be sure not to download so many applications that it degrades the the speed or efficiency of their iPad or keeps the student from downloading important school required Apps.

See above.

We are investigating parental control software for the iPad and will publish details when we know more; however, our expectation is that all apps will be purchased through the iTunes App Store, which already curates the app selection.

While on campus, the student iPads will be filtered exactly like our current computers are. Remember that no Internet filtering is 100% effective. The filtering software will, at times, filter sites that it shouldn't and fail to filter sites that it should. However, for the most part, it does help cut down on students browsing inappropriate Internet sites.

One thing to keep in mind is that while the iPads are on campus, they will be filtered. However, when they leave campus and our control, they will no longer be filtered. Devices will have access to filtered internet while on the Meyer Academy campus, however when off campus these devices will not pass through an internet filter unless implemented in the student’s home.

Am I required to have Internet access at home for the iPad program?

Meyer will not require that every parent have Internet access at their home. However, if you do have wireless Internet it will make life a little easier. For example, wireless Internet access will allow students to do research at home as well as be able to email back and forth with their teachers. The iPad that Meyer is going to provide to students won't have 3G service (cell service) and they won't require any monthly access fee to use. However, they must have access to some sort of Wi-Fi service to connect to the Internet. If students don't have Wi-Fi access at home, they will still be able to get on the Internet at school and at many businesses like Starbucks, Panera Bread Company, or McDonalds restaurants. Also, many public buildings like libraries have free wireless access available.

If my student's iPad has to be sent off for repair, will s/he be at a disadvantage in class?

If there is a problem with an iPad purchased through the program, the iPad should be returned to Meyer so that we can send it off for repair. The turn-around time for repairs is usually 3 to 5 days. During this time, we will supply a loaner iPad so that there is no disadvantage to the student.  While Meyer will not have an unlimited supply of loaner iPads, we will do our best to see that one is available.  As long as the iPad has been synced to a home or school computer, the loaner iPad can be set up exactly like the original with no loss of data and the student can continue using the iPad as before.

While the iPad was never intended as a complete computer replacement, the iPad should be able to handle the vast majority of a student's needs. The one thing that will be strongly suggested is a computer to use to Sync the iPad. Syncing the iPad uses Apple’s iTunes and simply means you connect the iPad to a computer and the contents of the iPad is backed up to that computer through iTunes. The syncing process usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes. The most efficient situation will be having a computer at home to use to sync the iPad.  If there is no home computer available, we will do our best to supply a computer at school that the student can use to sync their iPad. Syncing or not syncing will not affect how the iPad is used. It provides software updates, application updates, and a backup for everything that is saved on the iPad in the event that something should happen to it.

Students will be urged to synchronize their iPads on a regular basis with a computer at home.

If students purchase their iPad, it will be theirs upon graduation.

Meyer Academy will offer a lease option for the iPad at $150 / year.  Under this option, the device will be lent to the student for use during the academic year only.  The device will need to be returned during the summer and upon graduation.

Yes, students will be able to use the device they already own, but they will be required to purchase the full set of required apps which we anticipate will be between $50-$100.

iPads purchased through Meyer Academy will include an insurance policy which covers damages and theft.  This policy has a $50 deductible, and this fee will be the family’s responsibility.  Proper documentation will be required by the insurance company to complete a claim.  This policy does not cover loss.

Will students still have the option to get all of their textbooks (instead of just some of their texts) on paper next year?

Or before they graduate?

Won't the iPad be a distraction to the students in class? Will students be playing games in class instead of staying on task?

I understand that students will need access to an iTunes account to use with the iPad. I believe iTunes accounts require a credit card. How will I keep my student from charging iTunes purchases without my permission?

There are actually a few ways to deal with this issue. First, it is entirely possible to set up an iTunes account that does not have a credit card attached to it. In order to make any purchases, you would need to first purchase and add an iTunes gift card to the account. Once the gift card amount has been used, no further purchases can be made until another gift card is added.

Another way to control this is to attach the iPad to a parent's iTunes account and not give the student the password. When purchasing from iTunes, a password is almost always required.