Clayton Schools Launch Device Overhaul, Facility Upgrades for 2026-27

The School District of Clayton Board of Education has approved a new student device plan that will move students in Grades 3 through 12 from Chromebooks to iPads beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

This change arrives as the district also prepares to implement the $135 million bond measure approved by voters under Proposition O. Both measures take effect for the same budget year, creating overlapping timelines for procurement, training and construction planning.

Device Transition Details

Under the approved plan, students in Grades 3-8 and 9-12 will switch to iPads while Kindergarten through Grade 2 will continue using iPads already in place. The move replaces the current Chromebook deployment for the upper grades and requires the district to handle device distribution, software licensing and teacher preparation before the start of the 2026-27 year.

The single approved plan covers multiple grade bands at once, which means purchasing volumes, support staffing and classroom management policies must be set in the months ahead. District staff will need to coordinate with vendors and schedule any required training sessions during the current school year to avoid delays when classes resume.

Bond and Facility Timeline

Proposition O provides $135 million for facility improvements with no increase in the property tax rate. The measure is scheduled to support work that aligns with the 2026-27 budget year. District leaders must now sequence project bids, design reviews and construction schedules so that work does not interfere with the device rollout or daily operations.

Because both the device change and the bond projects share the same start year, administrators face decisions about budget allocation, staff time and communication with families. The district has not announced specific construction start dates, leaving open the question of which projects will move first and how any overlap with device distribution will be managed.

Next steps include finalizing vendor contracts for the iPads, determining distribution procedures for each school, and setting project priorities under the bond. These choices will determine how smoothly the 2026-27 year begins for students and staff.