Overview and key points of the services offered by the state capital Wiesbaden for schools and parents from grade 5 and 7.
Goal
The aim of the project is to equip pupils from year 5 onwards with a personal mobile device. Classes 5 of general education schools, including special schools sponsored by LHW, are initially eligible to participate each year. From 2025, schools can decide whether they would like to participate in the equipment project from year 7 onwards.
Equipment model
The city councilors have decided on a parent-financed equipment program with subsidies from the LHW ("Get Your Own Device" concept). Parents purchase the device at a discounted price from a supplier selected by the school authority through a tender process. Low-income families can even receive the device free of charge, but must return it at the end of the school year or if they move away from Wiesbaden.
The device is therefore usually the private property of the parents. In addition, the schools and the school authority are relieved of the administrative burden of loan agreements, device storage and return, etc. At the same time, this provides the highest motivation for careful use of the device and its intensive use.
Organizational matters
At certain times during the school year, parents can order devices in consultation with the schools. Parents are given access to a special online shop where they can complete their purchase directly and select their payment method. The city of Wiesbaden does not play a direct role in ordering and payment; the supplier settles the municipal subsidy amount per device directly with the city. Parents can choose between paying the total price when ordering or paying in monthly installments. Low-income households can also order the device from this shop, but do not have to make any payment.
The city council has determined that the cost to parents should not exceed the equivalent of EUR 10 per month. Ordered devices are delivered to the schools and distributed by the schools.
Device, accessories and insurance
Since spring 2025, the standard tablet has been an iPad 11 Wifi 128 GB with stylus and sturdy keyboard cover. In addition, the school authority purchases insurance policies for each device against damage, theft, vandalism, etc., which parents can claim against directly in the event of damage, including on site at a workshop in Wiesbaden. For some types of damage, the insurance provides for an excess for parents in the event of damage.
Device management and support
All devices ordered are automatically assigned to the central device administration for school iPads in Wiesbaden, which is managed by the Wiesbaden Media Center. The devices are configured according to the specifications and profiles that the state capital of Wiesbaden has defined in close consultation with the respective schools. Certain protection mechanisms are also activated via the device management and apps can be installed and deleted.
Educational support for schools
Schools that would like to use tablets as intensively as possible in the classroom have access to several external support and advisory services from the Hessian Teachers' Academy, the specialist advisory team of the State Education Authority and the team at the Wiesbaden Media Center.
Tablets already available privately
Under certain conditions, it is possible to use existing tablets as part of this project. These can then be integrated into the school IT device management system at the request of the parents. The license costs for the device management are borne by the school authority.
Timetable for the 2025/26 school year
As of February 4, 2026
The specialist retail partner is – as before – Gesellschaft für digitale Bildung mbH (GfdB).
Sep. + Oct. 2025:
Parent information events as requested by schools. The GfdB team is happy to participate.
By November 23, 2025:
Ordering iPads. The access link to the order shop will be distributed to parents via the school.
By December 24, 2025:
Submission of missing documents and verification of parents' eligibility to participate; at the same time, the GfdB purchases the necessary devices from the manufacturers.
January 12 to January 30, 2026:
Delivery of devices to schools
Second half of the school year:
January 15 to February 15, 2026:
Second order window, followed by the procedure described above