Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) officially announced that all member schools are now terminating the “bring your own device” (BYOD) program. The termination of the BYOD program will start on July 1, 2024. Students that have an IEP or 504 are able to use their own device for school with proper permission.
Students that bought their own device for school are now unable to use it and now don’t have an educational purpose for the device. Freshman Elizabeth English is one of many students who bring their own device to school. “I am not very happy about the program shutting down because I bought my computer for school and MacBooks have better quality than a Chromebook,” says English.
Frederick County Public Schools sent an email to all FCPS staff, students, and parents on May 1, 2024 warning them about how students will no longer be able to use a personal device at school. Freshman Sophia Ubersax is another student with her own device. “I found out from an email [on] FindOutFirst, and I was not happy because I’ve gotten used to my computer, and now it will be sitting in my house even after we paid a lot of money for it,” stated Ubersax.
With the ending of the program, Frederick County Public Schools have also decided to create new regulations about the usage of personal mobile devices (PMDs) which includes cell phones. Regulations of PMDs especially for students with needs have been discussed and once the regulations are implemented FCPS will send out an email to all families and staff that work at schools under FCPS.
Students that are going from using their own device to school issue chromebooks is a big change. Students that have had their device since middle school or the beginning of their high school years have to relearn using a new device.
”I understand why FCPS is ending the program, but I am annoyed because we bought this computer for school use, and I am not familiar with using chromebooks like knowing how to upload photos for assignments,” explained Ubersax.
The new regulations and decision to end BYOD was very sudden, but it is understandable why FCPS is ending the program. There were many issues with students’ own devices and school issued chromebooks and now that there is going to be a change in software computer technicians have the ability to try and fix school issued chromebooks instead of being worried about doing more damage to a students own device.
