One year ago, Humble ISD faced a challenge. A new state law prohibited students from bringing personal communication devices to school - including devices that some students had been using in their classes.
To address this challenge, the Humble ISD School Board approved a significant investment in new devices. Specifically, $2 million was allocated to replace and update Career and Technical Education (CTE) devices in more than 50 classrooms. An additional $1 million was utilized to fund more than 2,000 new Chromebooks and more than 70 carts.
Every campus now maintains at least 85 devices per 100 students. Because students do not require devices in every class—such as PE or athletics—this investment ensured the district met student needs in a fiscally-responsible way. Twenty-seven campuses have already achieved a one-to-one ratio through additional campus or Title I funding.
Providing devices was only part of the challenge. Humble ISD also is making significant investments in the technology infrastructure that supports student learning. Recent improvements include:
Upgraded wireless networks using next-generation Wi-Fi 7 technology.
Improved internet reliability through diverse network pathways and enhanced failover capabilities.
Fiber network upgrades at campuses across the district.
Increased network security and monitoring.
Although students can no longer use personal communication devices during the school day, Humble ISD has taken proactive steps to ensure students still have access to the technology necessary for academic success.
Why were there no major network outages in 2025-2026?
Humble ISD added resilience to the network, allowing Technology Services to reroute traffic through alternative fiber lines if one is cut. Outages can be caused by falling tree branches, road construction, traffic accidents and more. The district does not have control over these factors. Utility and telecommunications providers can take from one hour to several days to restore service. However, having resilience meant there were no major network outages during the past school year. When computers were down, it was due to electricity outages and not a major network outage.
What’s needed for the future?
Federal funding during COVID and Bond 2022 Proposition B infused the district with technology. Laptops for staff, Chromebooks for students, and interactive display screens for classrooms were purchased. However, as devices age, funding will be needed for replacements. Devices must be kept up to date for security software to be effective.
Find this story and more in the 2026-27 Your Schools Newsletter.