With 1:1 devices now the norm, many classrooms have at least one device per student. One study cited shows that 59% of teachers report a 1:1 ratio, up 9 percentage points from 2017. That’s a lot of student devices to keep safe, charged, and ready to use every day.

In this environment, device caddies help schools:

• Reduce breakage during transport – Younger students often struggle to carry laptops or tablets from a charging cart to their desks. Caddies give them a structured, easy-to-carry solution.
• Protect devices from bumps and drops – Full-length padded dividers keep devices from hitting each other and soften impact if the caddy is jostled or dropped.
• Support existing protective cases – Flexible dividers (about 1.25 in. wide) are designed to fit standard heavy-duty K–12 cases, so schools don’t have to change their current case strategy.
• Keep devices cleaner – A hydrophobic exterior coating helps repel liquid and dirt, so the caddy takes the wear instead of the device.

Bretford’s caddies were developed in collaboration with Higher Ground, a specialist in classroom technology protection, to help schools reimagine how devices move safely between carts, classrooms, and student workspaces.

Charging carts make sure devices are powered; caddies make sure they move safely and efficiently between the cart and student desks. Used together, they help schools rethink daily device management.

Here’s how the combination typically works:

• Charge and store centrally – A cart such as the CUBE Transport Cart with Caddies or CUBE Toploader Cart with Caddies stores and charges up to 30 devices (Chromebooks, laptops, or tablets up to 13 in.).
• Distribute in small batches – Each solution includes 6 caddies. Students or staff can carry about 5 devices per caddy from the cart to desks, reducing trips and handling.
• Protect during movement – Padded interiors and a spill-proof, ergonomic handle design help keep devices secure if the caddy is bumped or dropped.
• Speed up classroom startup – Instead of students crowding around a cart to grab individual devices, a few students can pick up caddies and quickly distribute devices to their peers.

The result is a more organized, predictable routine for charging, storing, and deploying devices, which can help cut down on accidental damage and lost instructional time.

Charging carts are typically all-steel and can be heavy, which introduces potential pinch-points and impact risks for younger students. Bretford’s CUBE Toploader Cart with Caddies is designed to reimagine that experience with student safety in mind.

Key safety-focused features include:

• Soft-close lid – Gas struts control how the lid opens and closes, helping prevent it from slamming shut when students are nearby.
• Rounded top corners – Rounded corners reduce the chance of injury if a child bumps into the cart.
• Single entry, single lid – One wide opening with a single up-and-down door minimizes moving parts and pinch-points. It also creates more space for students to access devices without crowding around multiple doors.
• Caddies as a buffer – Students interact mainly with lightweight caddies rather than reaching deep into the cart, which further limits contact with heavy hardware.

Together, these design choices help schools protect both students and devices while keeping Chromebooks, laptops, and tablets charged, stored, and ready to use throughout the day.