Rising Computer Costs Threaten Philly-Area School-Issued Laptop Programs

Rising computer costs threaten Philly-area school-issued laptop programs

The worldwide computer memory shortage is driving up the cost of laptops.

Philly-area schools face laptop crisis as AI boom drives up prices

School districts across the Philadelphia region that used federal pandemic money to put a laptop in every student’s hands are now struggling to keep those devices running as a worldwide computer memory shortage sends prices soaring. The problem hits hardest in chronically underfunded districts. Upper Darby, one of the largest school systems in Pennsylvania with more than 12,500 students, is spending $2 million to $3 million a year just to keep u…