Ever since the implementation of the program, the Benefits of 1-to-1 Initiative have delighted K-12 school administrators, teachers, students, and parents alike. An extensive survey of nearly 1000 schools conducted by Project RED, a research group headed by the One-to-One Institute and the authors of America’s Digital Schools, concludes that schools that implemented the 1:1 initiative consistently outperformed traditional schools in several academic as well as financial aspects. Therefore, it goes without saying that 1:1 is the way forward for America’s school system.
However, schools tend to struggle when it comes to the nitty-gritty of employing the 1:1 initiative. Even though the initial cost of buying Chromebooks or iPads for students is high, the issue that puts IT, directors, administrators, and principals in the biggest quandary is whether to buy insurance for the electronic devices or self-insure. While there are several pros and cons of each possibility, many schools agree that there is one clear winner: buying student device insurance.
The crux of the 1:1 initiative lies on students’ constant access to their electronic devices and their connectivity to the internet. Therefore, it is absolutely pivotal for schools to ensure that any damage to these devices is repaired immediately and any lost or stolen devices are replaced as fast as possible in order to make certain that the students’ work is not hampered. This makes it extremely important that the task of student device insurance is handled by professionals who specialize in this field and can work in a timely manner.
Benefits of Buying Student Device Insurance
- No Hassle or Stress. Perhaps the biggest benefit of opting to buy K-12 student device insurance from a third party, like Securranty, is that it rids the school administrators of the hassle and stress of managing claims, making repairs, and finding replacements for devices that cannot be repaired. Buying accidental damage protection plans from a company like Securranty prevents additional strain on the school’s already burdened human and other resources.
- No-Risk of Exceeding Budgets. When a school buys student device insurance from Securranty, they are essentially transferring all the risk to the insurance company. This means that the school does not have to worry about arranging additional funds if the overall cost of repairs and replacements exceeds the budgeted amount. With Securranty, all they have to do is pay a fixed insurance cost to the insurance company for their iPad or Chromebook insurance.
- Simple, Fast, and Easy Management of Claims. Outsourcing the K-12 student device insurance to Securranty allows schools to focus on what they do best: educating the youth of America. Securranty’s online platform provides an easy and simple method of filing and managing claims. It takes around 2 minutes to file a claim and all devices can be tracked in one account. Regardless of whether the student pays for the insurance or the school, Securranty offers a school-branded landing page allowing for effortless management of claims and insurance payment options. This simple, fast, and easy platform requires very little input from the school’s IT staff to oversee the process.
- Low Cost Due to Bulk Buying. The cherry on top is the affordable cost of Chromebook and iPad insurance provided by Securranty. The company can leverage the benefits of volume buying parts and services and get your repairs done at a much cheaper rate than if you were self-insured.
- Fast Turnaround Time. Securranty takes 5 days to repair and return your devices, all shipping, and postage paid for. It also offers on-site dispatch and the same day, next day, depot, and school repair to streamline the process for the school. All Chromebook and iPad warranty is 1 year for labor and parts repaired.
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Is Self-Insuring Even Worth It?
Before your school decides to self-insure student electronic devices, here are a few things to consider: Do you have the expertise to manage a self-insurance program? Is your staff ready for the additional responsibility of repairs management? Do you have the tools to accurately track all repairs and replacements? Do you have experience with managing iPad and Chromebook warranty? What if the cost of claims exceeds the funds budgeted for it?
Your school will, of course, calculate the hard-dollar cost of doing repairs and replacements of devices that cannot be repaired. However, it is much trickier to calculate the increase in the cost of human and other resources invested in the program. Many schools charge a technology fee, which often falls short of the cost of repairs and replacements. Transferring the cost of claims to parents may not always be a viable solution, especially if some families cannot afford it. Finally, schools that self-insure may have to rely on local shops that may not have certified technicians and quality assurance programs.
Everything considered, even if there are apparent savings in true dollars by self-insuring K-12 student devices, they are never enough to justify the headaches, hassles, and risks suffered by the school.
