Technology

TKA Tech Requirements for 2026-2027

The recommended configuration is as follows: 2024 M3 MacBook laptop 8GB RAM (16GB Preferred), 256 GB or more SSD Hard Drive, macOS 26 or newer, battery life 6+ hours, protective case. Note: Protective covers are required for all devices used at school.

TKA is a "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) School

BYOD has become the standard at many schools. For the 2026-2027 school year, all students in grades 8-12 will use MacBook laptops. Students in grades 6-7 will use school-issued devices, which will stay in the classroom. Note: Students will be limited to only one device on TKA's network.

Minimum Device Specifications

The minimum acceptable configuration is as follows: 2022 M2 MacBook laptop 8GB RAM, 256 GB SSD Hard Drive, macOS 26 or newer, battery life 6+ hours, and a protective case.

Device Protection: We strongly recommend that parents purchase an extended warranty, such as Apple Care, at the time they purchase their device.

Since TKA is a Google Workspace for Education school, online access to Workspace tools such as Mail, Calendar, and Drive will be part of the students’ daily access. 

Students should also have Pages, KeyNote, and Numbers (Apple iWork Suite) as well as GarageBand and iMovie installed on their device. Those applications can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

Additionally, we require that the Google Chrome browser be used as it functions better with Google Workspace for Education apps (e.g. Google Docs, Slides, Classroom, etc.). Other software such as Adobe, Microsoft Office, and any other application may be required by teachers.

Required Compliance Software

Please note that devices that do not meet these requirements will not have access to the TKA network.

• All devices must have the latest macOS operating system, security updates and antimalware software installed and kept up to date.
   
• There is a free antimalware software option called Malwarebytes.  Please follow these step-by-step instructions to download and install the software.
   
• If you prefer a paid version, you may purchase Malwarebytes Premium, or check out these other school recommendations for antivirus software: CrowdStrike, Trend Micro, SentinelOne, McAfee, Norton, Webroot.”

When students are on TKA's campus, all their online activities will be filtered and monitored by TKA, but TKA does not monitor nor filter computers off-campus.

Since families own the device, parents may install whichever security features they want to protect their children, giving parents the freedom to make the right choices for their students. Please make sure to disable content filtering options during school hours so as not to interfere with TKA filtering. Some options to consider:

• Options for Setting Up Parental Controls on Home Devices
• Mobicip
• Net Nanny
• Circle
• Bark
• Microsoft new Family Safety app for iOS and Android
• Apple's Screen Time
• Google's Digital Wellbeing

TKA is not responsible for any lost devices or theft of devices on campus, e.g. device left in an unlocked locker, area, or vehicle or unsecured book bag. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide a replacement device for their student so as not to lose any class time. We strongly encourage parents to set up the Find My Mac feature on their student device. To set up Find my Mac, please follow this guide.

In the case that a student device is lost or broken, the TKA IT Department has a pool of loaner devices. Those devices will be issued to students for a maximum of 5 days from the date it was requested until they get their device fixed or replaced, depending on availability. Loaner devices will not be issued in cases were a student device was forgotten at home.

Students may install any software they choose on their school device as long as the software does not violate TKA Acceptable Use Policy.

TKA is a Google Workspace for Education school and the applications we use are in the cloud, so there should be no software incompatibility issues with Apple’s M-Series Chip.

Apple has always designed products that make learning personal and empower the creative genius in all of us. We’ve chosen the Apple platform and Apple products because they align with our goals to make learning relevant, inspire creativity, enhance collaboration, and enable every learner to be a creator who believes their work matters. No other brand focuses on the education market quite like Apple. From developing the best e-readers, e-books, and hardware that rarely has problems with viruses, Apple products just work better for students and last longer. While TKA is committed to the Apple products, TKA also uses the Google product, Workspace for Education.

To purchase your student’s Apple product, visit our Family-Funded iPad and Mac Program online custom store. This secure, custom page ensures that you’re buying the Apple device your student needs. It offers all the same great features you find when shopping on the Apple website, including free delivery and in-store pickup. You can also visit your local Apple Store. Finance options may also available for purchases made at an Apple Store or online. And to find out if your existing Apple device qualifies to be traded in for a gift card toward a purchase in a store, visit www.apple.com/recycling.

This is TKA's Device Acceptable Use Policy.

Students may only connect the device they will be using in the classroom to TKA's network. Phones and other personal devices may not be connected to WiFi.

If your student has issues connecting to the student Wifi, we ask that they perform the following initial troubleshooting steps before visiting the IT department:

• Make sure that they are not connected to a mobile hotspot and are connected to the student Wifi
• Restart their computer
• Clear their browser cache and cookies:
  • In Chrome
  • In Safari

Not while on campus. Any VPN or proxy in the form of a software application or a browser extension must be disabled while on campus. Using those types of software to attempt to evade security and bypass filtering while on campus will warrant a conduct report with high demerits.

Any device, including personal devices connected to TKA’s wireless network, is governed by the school’s IT Acceptable Use Policy and disciplinary actions as highlighted in the Student/Parent Handbook.

Currently, TKA does not provide charging stations for laptops or iPads. Students are expected to come prepared for class by having their fully charged device with them.

All student data pertaining to their schoolwork must be stored on Google Drive and not locally on their device. If a student chooses to store their homework on their devices and not on Google, they will be fully responsible for safeguarding their data.

We strongly recommend that parents have the sole administrative access to student devices.

Many adults grew up in a different environment where the biggest threat to time management for children was the T.V. Today, with the multitude of portable technology devices in our homes (smartphones, laptops, tablets), our parents want to know how they can protect their children from online predators, how to block websites, and how to add filters to home networks. Like teachers, parents need support in learning best practices for living in the digital age with a teenager. TKA wants to partner with you.  

TKA will offer seminars and a variety of resources to our parents about how to help students use technology responsibly at home.  Read the Friday Royal Reminders for the latest information.

• Options for Setting Up Parental Controls on Home Devices
• Set  Boundaries:  Device Contract & Family Media Agreement
• Manage Devices:   The Best Parental Control Devices for Safe Internet Browsing
• Parental Control Software:  Net Nanny, Circle are good options to explore
• Educate Yourself & Talk with Your Student(s). - Common Sense Media Family Toolbox & Reviews
• Teen Cellphone Agreement
• Amplified EDU blog series on digital citizenship
• Screenagers Tech Talk Tuesday blog
• How to Keep Kids Safe Online - A Guide for Parents  (published by ism, the source for private school news)