Primary and secondary schools must have enough devices like laptops or tablets available by the end of 2026 to support their students’ learning. This is to meet the department’s mandatory device-to-student ratios under the Digital Strategy 2023 to 2026. Learn about the ratios and how the department supports schools to meet them.

How many devices schools need to have – device-to-student ratios

Devices include student laptops and tablets used for learning purposes. The department sets requirements for how many devices must be available to students depending on the year level. All schools must meet these device-to-student ratios by the end of 2026. The ratios are:

• For primary year levels: 1 device for every 3 students (1:3 device-to-student ratio) – this is an average across all primary year levels of the school.
• For secondary year levels: 1 device per student (1:1 device-to-student ratio).

For more details refer to the department policies:

• primary student digital device policy (PDF 585 KB)
• secondary student digital device policy (PDF 567 KB)

Primary year levels: 1 device for every 3 students  (on average)

Schools must have 1 device per 3 students in primary year levels by the end of 2026. The 1:3 ratio is an average across all primary year levels of the school. Some schools may already meet this ratio.

It’s up to each school to choose how they distribute devices across year levels. They may for example make more devices available to students in years 5 and 6 and fewer devices per student in reception to year 2. The average must be 1 device for every 3 students across reception to year 6.

Secondary year levels : 1 device per student

Schools must achieve a device ratio of 1 device per student in secondary year levels by the end of 2026. Some schools may already meet this ratio.

Schools will communicate with families what type of device children will need to support their learning and how devices will be made available.

Secondary students will generally take their device to school and home each day to support their learning.

School Device Program: access to devices and support for schools

Schools can opt into the department’s School Device Program for support with meeting device-to-student ratios.

In 2025 participating schools can:

• purchase devices from the department for primary year levels
• purchase devices from the department for years 7 and 10 students
• invoice families for devices where applicable, except families on School Card who are eligible for access to a free device.

Participating schools will be also soon able to:

• purchase devices from the department for all year levels
• access an online portal to purchase a selection of devices
• provide families access to an online portal to purchase devices directly where applicable.

Financial support through the School Device Program

The School Device Program provides participating schools access to devices as well as financial support.

The department covers:

• 50% of the budgeted cost of all devices for primary year levels to meet the 1:3 ratio, with schools paying the remaining 50% (schools may invoice families, where applicable, to recover some of the cost)
• 50% of the budgeted cost for devices for students on School Card in years 7 and 10, with schools paying the remaining 50% for those devices.

Information for families

Your school will communicate with you about what type of device your child will need to support their learning and how devices will be made available.

Contact your school if you have any questions about devices or taking part in the School Device Program.

Access to free devices for eligible School Card families

Families on School Card whose child or children attend years 7 or 10 of a participating school in 2025 can get access to a free device to support their studies.

The cost for the device is shared between the department and the school.

The School Device Program will be expanded to all secondary school students on School Card by 2026.