In the continuous year of 2024 FCPS has made some controversial I.T. policy decisions. Such decisions include the discontinuation of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, temporarily blocking students from sharing a document among themselves with a link, and then blocking students from accessing the ‘FCPS Guest’ network if the system’s network trackers were not able to penetrate a student’s device or browser.
Now, FCPS is eliminating the access that students have to their network via their personal devices. Catoctin High School announced this new countywide policy in a recently released statement. Similar statements were also released by every principal from every school in the county.
This is possibly the most controversial policy decision of the 2024-2025 school year, with students and teachers being mostly divided on the issue. When students heard about this change, they reacted with shock, and some with disbelief. Teachers with whom I spoke were excited to learn of the news, although some expressed reservations due to the fact they use their phone for professional purposes during school hours.
This change may disproportionately affect CHS as well because of its poor cellular service connection within the school as compared to other high schools within the county. FCPS’ central I.T. department has previously advised teachers who use their phones to use their personal data, which in many parts of the building is impossible.
The official statement is that the decision comes to quell threats of cyber attack as well as prevent students from accessing harmful content on the internet. Some dispute this claim.
