Student Laptops

Get help with your TPS student laptop

The Tacoma technology help desk is committed to providing technical support to our students and families for all district-provided devices. We are unable to offer technical assistance with personal devices.

From Your TPS Student Laptop

Log into SolarWinds by clicking the blue, question-mark icon on your desktop. From here you can:

• Submit a help ticket
• Review the status of your current or previous requests 
• Chat live with a technician (during normal district hours) 

Use the Solutions function to search for answers to common technology problems.

By Email

studenthelp@tacoma.k12.wa.us

By Phone

• 253-571-4357
• Technicians are available during normal district hours.  
• After hours? Leave a message or use one of the other methods above.

Get Connected                

• Click the no internet icon to access the wireless network settings.
• Choose your wireless network, click “connect” and enter your network security key.

• Click Next when complete and your computer should connect.

Get Logged-in

• Enter your full email address in the user name box
  • For example: 33334444@tps10.org
• Enter your student password in the password box, press enter

 

Get help

• Click the student HELP icon on your desktop (blue circle with question mark)

• View tutorials and FAQs
• Submit a HELP ticket
• Request remote assistance

Contact the customer service center at 253-571-4357 during regular business hours to speak with a technician.

I Know My Password

Log in to your computer and enter the key combination CTRL+ALT+DELETE. When the lock screen appears,  choose the “Change A Password” option and enter your current password, then your new password.

NOTE: Your new password must contain eight characters. The characters can be numbers, letters, symbols, or a combination of all three.

I Don't Know My Password

Please ask your teacher for assistance or contact the Customer Service Center at 253-571-4357.

Troubleshooting a Student Password: 

1. Verify your student is using  their email address (StudentID#@tps10.org ) as their username.   
    
2. Double-check the student ID number is correct.  
    
3. New passwords must be at least eight characters long or will be rejected. The new password can't use the student’s name, birth date, string of consecutive numbers, or be a past password. 
    
4. Try restarting the computer. 
    
5. Try waiting 15 minutes and trying again.  
    
6. If locked out wait 15 minutes to start again.  

For additional help or assistance please contact the Customer Service Center at 253-571-4357. 

General Care

• Not placing food or drink beside devices and always keeping the laptop dry.
• Carefully insert and remove cords, cables, and removable storage devices into the laptops.
• Not adding stickers or permanent markers to the laptop lid.
• Leave the TPS inventory and ID labels on the laptop.
• Never lean on or place heavy objects on the laptop when open or closed.
• Not placing items on the laptop keyboard and shutting the lid.
• Using only a clean, slightly damp, lint-free cloth to clean the laptop. DO NOT spray liquid directly onto the laptop screen; avoid getting moisture in any openings.

Classroom Use

• Use a protective sleeve or bag to help protect your laptop when taking it to and from school.
• Bring the power cord in a backpack or separate case. 
• Charge your laptop overnight to be ready for the next day.
• It's important to keep passwords confidential, don't display visibly on the laptop.
• Never leave the laptop or accessories unattended. 

Off-Campus Use

• Store laptops out of reach from pets and other possible hazardous conditions.
• Keep the laptop at a reasonable temperature. Do not leave the equipment outdoors or inside a car in extreme temperatures for extended periods.
• When the laptop is in use or charging, ensure that proper airflow around the device is possible. Do not use the computer on soft surfaces like pillows and blankets.
• Do not leave your laptop or accessories unattended; store them in a secure, safe location.
• To ensure the laptop continues to perform at its best, we recommend restarting it at least once a week. Restarting clears out temporary files, refreshes system memory, and allows important updates to install properly. This simple step helps prevent slowdowns, resolves minor software glitches and keeps your laptop in top shape for daily activities. Make it a habit—choose a day of the week that works for you and give your laptop a fresh start!

No. Students and parents can purchase a protective case, sleeve, or bag at a retailer of their choice. 

Digital rights include the norms of respectful, responsible, safe, and healthy behavior related to current technology use. Expectations for student behavior online are no different from face-to-face interactions. Board Regulation 2022R - Electronic Resources and Internet Safety provides more information.

The student's laptop is a vital learning tool and is for educational purposes only. Students are required to accept the following responsibilities: 

As a TPS student, I will:  

• Comply with TPS Acceptance and Liability guidelines and the Acceptable Use for Digital Resources policy and regulation 6973R. 

• Use the equipment for educational purposes only.  

• Abide by district policies and federal/state laws, including copyright laws.  

• Use good behavior; using district technology for political, personal, or private gain, individual business, or commercial advantage is prohibited.   

• Use digital resources in a legal, moral, and ethical manner.  

• Not use digital resources for illegal purposes to harass, intimidate, or bully or to access or possess obscene pornographic or other inappropriate materials.    

• Never share or swap laptops with another student. Keep your password CONFIDENTIAL. 

• Not mark the laptop in any way with markers, stickers, etc. 

• Not remove Tacoma Public Schools labels or asset tags. 

• Not insert foreign objects into openings of the laptop. 

• Not eat or drink near the laptop. 

• Bring the laptop to school fully charged with power cords daily. 

Students will keep their assigned laptop until they leave the district or are part of a technology refresh.

Each year, students entering the first, fifth, and ninth grades will receive new laptops as part of a planned student laptop technology refresh cycle.

Graduating and unenrolling students should return their laptops and power cords to their school before their last day in the district.

Students who don't return a laptop may be subject to repercussions outlined in TPS Regulation 3520R, Student Fees, Fines, Charges. 

Students keep their assigned laptops when changing schools within the district.  

A limited number of day-use, loaner laptops are available to students who report to school without their laptops. Individual schools will provide additional guidance. 

Homeowners or renters insurance may provide coverage for your district-issued laptop. You will need to verify coverage with your insurance company. 

The following companies provide insurance for electronic devices:  

• Securranty - https://securranty.com/Warranties.aspx 
• Asurion - https://www.asurion.com/protect-your-device 
• Safeware - https://www.safeware.com/Products-Services/K-12/Laptop-Insurance 
• GoCare - https://gocare.com/k-12 
• Worth Ave. Group - https://www.worthavegroup.com/product/laptop-insurance/ 

These companies are not affiliated with or do business with Tacoma Public Schools. This list is not an endorsement by TPS of any company or service they offer. We are merely providing them as a reference. Please investigate and research these and other companies that offer this service before purchasing to determine what is best for you and your family. 

Personal insurance purchases or financial obligations are between you and the company you choose. The district has no access or visibility to your insurance policy, and TPS will not be part of any claims process other than to verify the device was issued to your student.  

You are responsible for initiating and managing any claims or reimbursements with the company issuing the policy. The insurance carrier will decide if your claim constitutes accidental vs. intentional abuse.