Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Student/Parent Guidelines for use of a Privately Owned Electronic Device

Starting with the 2012-2013 school year, Virginia Beach City Public Schools will allow students to use privately owned electronic devices to access the VBCPS wireless network. This wireless access provided to the devices is designed to enhance the students’ educational experience and outcomes. Connecting to the VBCPS Wi-Fi network with personal devices is a privilege, not a right, and it is not a requirement for division students. Permission to bring and use privately owned devices is contingent upon adherence to VBCPS guidelines. If a privately owned device is used by a student to disrupt the educational environment, in the sole opinion of VBCPS, that student’s privileges may be limited or revoked.

Answers to frequently asked questions concerning BYOD are available.

Guidelines

1. Students may use a privately owned electronic “Internet ready” device on the VBCPS wireless network with teacher or administrator permission.
2. The use of a privately owned electronic device is to support and enhance instructional activities.
3. Students are prohibited from accessing the Internet using any external Internet service.
4. No privately owned electronic device may be connected to the VBCPS network by a network cable plugged into a data outlet. Network access is provided via Wi-Fi access only.
5. No student shall establish a wireless ad-hoc or peer-to-peer network using his/her electronic device or any other wireless device while on school grounds. This includes, but is not limited to using a privately owned electronic device as a cabled or wireless hotspot.
6. Voice, video, and image capture applications may only be used with teacher or administrator permission.
7. Sound should be muted unless the teacher or administrator grants permission for use of sound associated with the instructional activities. A teacher or administrator may permit the use of ear buds or other types of headphones.
8. The privately owned electronic device owner is the only person allowed to use the device.
9. No division-owned academic or productivity software can be installed on personal devices.
10. No student shall use any computer or device to illegally collect any electronic data or disrupt networking services.
11. Devices are brought to school at the students’ and parents’ own risk. In the event that a privately owned device is lost, stolen or damaged, VBCPS is not responsible for any financial or data loss.
12. Violation of school or division policies, local, state and/or federal laws while using a personal electronic device on the VBCPS wireless network will result in appropriate disciplinary and/or legal action as specified in the Student Handbook and Code of Student Conduct, School Board policy as well as by local, state and/or federal law.
13. The school division and school division personnel cannot attempt to repair, correct, troubleshoot, or be responsible for malfunctioning personal hardware or software.
14. The school division reserves the right to examine the privately owned electronic device and search its contents if there is reason to believe that school division policies or local, state and/or federal laws have been violated. In the event that a student believes that his/her password has been compromised, he/she should immediately reset his/her password using a school division computer.