Chicago Public Schools Proposes $60 Million Contract to Enhance Technology Device Tracking
By Mila Koumpilova, Chalkbeat
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is considering a significant investment to better monitor thousands of laptops, tablets, and other technology devices distributed throughout the district. The school board is expected to vote later this month on a potential four-year contract valued at up to $60 million with CDW, a major technology supplier based in Vernon Hills, Illinois. This contract aims to implement an automated system to track and inventory the vast array of electronic devices issued to both students and staff.
Background: Challenges in Tracking School Technology
The proposal comes in response to longstanding difficulties CPS faced in tracking technology devices, especially those acquired in large quantities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigations by Chalkbeat and WBEZ in late 2022, followed by a 2024 report from the district’s inspector general, revealed thousands of lost or unaccounted devices. The inspector general’s report underscored an alarming lack of accountability and ineffective measures to safeguard the district’s technology assets, highlighting that approximately 77,000 items were marked as lost or stolen during 2021 and 2022. Following these revelations, CPS introduced multiple policy changes in January 2024, including enhanced staff training and increased accountability measures. As a result, the district has improved its ability to electronically locate devices, some even tracked internationally, reducing the annual device loss rate from 11% to 7%, according to district officials.
The Proposed RFID Tracking System
At a recent school board meeting, Paul Valente, CPS’s facilities automation architect, described the new contract’s core feature: a radio frequency identification (RFID) system. The district’s devices already carry RFID tags, and the agreement with CDW would capitalize on this technology to automate tracking.
Valente, drawing from his experience as a former school technology coordinator, explained the potential benefits of RFID. He recalled how manually locating and counting devices for an annual inventory was resource-intensive—an automated system would streamline this process significantly.
Expert Opinions and Concerns
Education technology expert Bart Epstein, former CEO of the EdTech Evidence Exchange, acknowledged the promising aspects of RFID technology but cautioned that technological investment alone may not solve deep-seated issues. “Even a great technology that’s poorly implemented is useless,” Epstein noted. He emphasized that human factors—including adequate staff training and rigorous accountability—remain crucial to ensuring the system’s success.
Financial and Procurement Considerations
The contract’s $15 million per year cost has raised questions, especially given CPS’s ongoing budget constraints. Board member Ed Bannon inquired why the district chose CDW over a lower-cost bidder. District officials initially claimed CDW submitted the lowest bid but later acknowledged the existence of a cheaper proposal from another vendor. CPS said four companies submitted bids, but details will remain confidential until after a contract is finalized.
Aside from tracking technology assigned to students and staff, CPS’s facilities department is also exploring adopting the RFID system to protect its equipment inventory.
CPS’s Commitment to Improving Asset Management
According to CPS statements, multiple initiatives beyond the CDW contract are underway to further improve tracking and reduce losses among the district’s more than 636,000 technology devices. The district views the RFID system as a “key component” of ongoing efforts, enabling real-time monitoring of unauthorized device removal, quicker recovery of missing items, and simplified inventory processes.
CPS leadership states these measures exceed the recommendations from the inspector general’s report and reflect the district’s commitment to technological accountability and resource stewardship.
For further information or to provide feedback, contact Mila Koumpilova at mkoumpilova@chalkbeat.org.
