Hillsborough County’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program has been expanded to include the entire district. Students now have the opportunity to use their electronic devices to read, take notes, or get ahead on homework. During the 2012-2013 school year, six schools were chosen to add the program to their education system. Now, all schools have approved and are on board with including the program.

The Hillsborough County school board is trying to connect technology with classrooms to better the curriculum.

However, a major concern that school board members are facing is whether or not the program will benefit or hurt the current system.

“I think it’ll be beneficial I guess, but it also doesn’t really work because teachers still say ‘No devices’,” Laura Thompson (’17) said.

Students are using this program to their advantage though and try to benefit themselves as best as possible.

Nicholas Fata (’17) frequently takes advantage of the BYOD policy by using his laptop during JAs, an IB study hall.

“I use it to do my homework, get stuff done, and even do some programming,” Fata said. “I can do [assignments] in less time and it also makes things a lot neater.”

The school district also has a pilot program, Project Innovate, which will allow all Hillsborough students to own a laptop in some classrooms. The money awarded to Florida from Race to the Top fund will be used to purchase the new technology. Hillsborough county is expected to receive $964,000. But the money will all depend on the amount of state funding.