A commitment to provide all students with the necessary skills to thrive as 21st century learners, workers, and citizens.
2512 George Mason Drive • P.O. Box 6038 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456-0038   757.263.1000 • 757.263.1240 TDD

AlertNow Notification System
Text Messages

In addition to receiving AlertNow messages via phone or email, you have the option to receive a text message. Typically, a text message will be delivered to your cell phone for school closings, delays, and emergency situations. If you would like to receive an AlertNow text message, it is important for you to read the following information.

How do I sign up to receive text messages delivered to my cell phone?
In order to receive text messages delivered to your cell phone, you must personally “opt-in” to this service by following these directions:

  1. Go to the AlertNow SMS Web Portal page.
  2. Enter Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ PIN: vbcpstext.
  3. Select the green Opt-In box directly under the PIN box.
  4. On the SMS Emergency Opt-In Page, add the phone number you wish to receive school generated text messages and the owner of this cell phone.
  5. To receive a text message, you must select the school or schools of your choice. There is no limit to the number of schools. It is recommended you check the boxes of the schools your child currently attends.
  6. If you are only interested in receiving a text message for school closings, delays, and emergencies, please select Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
  7. Virginia Beach City Public Schools staff not assigned to a school should select the box next to Virginia Beach City Public Schools in order to receive messages pertaining to closings, cancellations, and delays.
  8. At the end of each school year, all cell phone numbers will be removed. For continued service, you must re-subscribe each school year.
  9. You may subscribe to the AlertNow text messaging service anytime during the school year.
  10. You must agree to the terms and conditions of the text messaging option. It is important for you to know that your cell phone carrier may charge for each text message delivered to your cell phone.
  11. By selecting the Submit Opt-In Information button found at the very bottom of the page, you are now eligible to receive a text message from the school division.
  12. All text messages sent by Virginia Beach City Public Schools will be identified on your cell phone by these three numbers: 556-29; 630-79 or 231-77.