PGCPS ensures that all educators have access to a district-issued device for use at school or home. Using these devices, educators will connect with students through district-approved virtual conferencing tools, specifically Google Meet. The Technology Training Team (T3) within the Department of Technology Integration provides ongoing courses, modules, and instructional resources throughout the year to support effective device use. During Virtual Education Days, T3 offers live support to educators to further ensure high-quality synchronous instruction.
All PGCPS students are issued a digital mobile device (Chromebook or iPad) for instructional use at school. To support Virtual Education Days, PGCPS will add a feature within Synergy ParentVUE that allows parents or guardians to indicate whether a student requires a device for home use. PGCPS actively monitors device requests submitted through ParentVUE and provisions devices as needed. Families who receive a device for home use must agree to the district’s acceptable use policies and the Student Device Usage Agreement, including financial responsibility for loss or damage. Devices issued for Virtual Education Days must be returned to schools on the first day of in-person instruction following the virtual day.
Schools are responsible for managing their on-site technology inventory and will work in coordination with the Division of Information Technology (DIT) to ensure adequate devices are available for distribution to families when Virtual Education Days are announced. DIT has access to school-level reports within Synergy documenting device requests submitted through ParentVUE, which allows the division to proactively monitor demand and support schools in maintaining sufficient device availability for at-home use during virtual instruction. To this end, additional chargers designated for distribution for virtual learning have been delivered to schools to help with student assignment.
In advance of a Virtual Education Day, a “Get Ready” announcement will prompt schools to conduct a Virtual Education Day Drill. During this drill, educators will ensure that students have login credentials, understand how to access the digital learning platform, and can successfully join synchronous sessions using either school-issued or personal devices. Educators who do not routinely take devices home are reminded to check out a district-issued device as needed, and students whose families submitted a ParentVUE request will be issued a device prior to leaving school.
PGCPS continues to monitor student access to internet connectivity. Data from virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and prior asynchronous instructional days indicate that the majority of students have internet access outside of school. ESSER-funded hotspots were largely unused; therefore, PGCPS maintains a limited number of emergency hotspots for students experiencing homelessness or other significant disruptions. The district collaborates with school administrators, the McKinney-Vento Office, and Community Schools Coordinators to support these students. Additionally, Community Schools Coordinators and Parent Engagement Assistants are provided with information to assist families in enrolling in reduced-cost home internet services offered by regional providers. Students who may experience connectivity issues during a Virtual Education Day are directed to contact their school so that the school can work individually with families on securing access for that day and possibly longer term solutions.
For details about students’ devices and the Student Device Usage Agreement, visit our Student Devices webpage.
