Minnesota Parents Asked to Insure Students’ Electronics

Some school districts in Minnesota want parents to pick up the tab for insuring expensive tablet computers that are given to students.

More and more electronics are replacing textbooks, paper and pencils. Farmington schools will buy enough Apple iPads for every student by the end of the school year. Over the next four years, the school district expects to spend about $3 million on iPads.

Schools districts investing millions of dollars in electronics are asking parents to take financial responsibility for the digital devices in the event they are lost, stolen, damaged or broken.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press says parents of Farmington students can buy an insurance policy for $28 annually to cover damage. If parents decide not to buy the insurance, they are responsible for replacing the devices if they’re damaged.