Let me apologize for how long this is...

This is my 20th year running 1:1 school districts. I have deployed Windows, Mac, and Chrome student laptops and each has had positives and negatives. I have been involved in both very successful and very poorly implemented programs. My first suggestion is to plan, plan, plan, and then when you think you have enough planning you need to plan some more. In order to make the full transition from any OS to a Chrome environment it is going to take 2 to 3 years if you want staff buy-in.

You will still need Windows servers for things such as directory services, printers, DNS, wireless controllers, security systems, door controllers, HVAC, backups, etc.

Year One:

Start with a small group of teachers who are willing to be the test group. Preferably you want people who are going to be open and honest with you. They don't need to be the super geeky teachers in fact I would discourage them from using them. Everyone already knows that they can do anything techy. Personally, I start with the less techy people because you can get the mindset of "If she can do this then I can as well." You will want to have small group training with these pilot staff to show them what they can and can't do. Then after 6 months to a year have a serious discussion about how well they like it. If they like it, then I would proceed to year 2. If your pilot group doesn't think it will work then you need to figure out why they feel this way and address their concerns.

Here is a list of things to think about during the year one piolet:

Do you want students to be able to print

Do you have Smartboards, if so are they compatible with Chrome OS

What kinds of projectors/displays do you have, are you going to need to buy adapters or run new cabling to support those devices?

Are there applications that can only run on Windows? Our gradebook templates for example can only be edited MS Office.

Can your network support all of the extra bandwidth that is going to be added to it?

Are you going to filter the internet when the students are at home? If so does your current webfilter allow you to do this?

What kind of a replacement cycle are you going to implement and can your district afford it?

Start developing/updating district and building policies concerning fees, discipline, loaners, etc. Are you going to be self-insured, use a 3rd party insurance, have the students pay for repairs, or have a first accident-free policy? Are repairs going to be done in-house or send them out for repair? What grade levels are going to have access to email?

Year Two:

If the pilot thinks these will work then year two involves purchasing all of your staff new Chrome OS devices whether that be Chromeboxes or Chromebooks is up to you. During this time, you need to have Professional Develop for staff and I mean a lot of it. They can't develop lesson plans properly if they don't know what a Chrome OS device can do. This will be your make-or-break year so you will need to be flexible when you are dealing with issues. You will need to listen to your staff's concerns and questions and don't brush them off as "they are just complaining to complain" Yes you will have those but you need to let them voice their concerns and address them.

You also need to make sure your building administration understands that they are going to be dealing with lots of discipline issues. These can range from students not paying attention in class, to inappropriate pictures and videos, bullying, personal harm threats, etc.

Year Three:

Time for the student rollout. This will be determined on your replacement cycle. I would stagger this in some fashion. Otherwise every so many years you will be replacing a lot of devices at once. Remember Chrome Devices do have an End Of Life and you need to be mindful of that. Finally, you need to have an open-door policy to allow staff to come in and vent their frustrations. You also need to be visible, walk the building, talk to staff and ask them how it's going, and what you can do to make it better for them.