Parent Funded Devices
The Parent Funded Devices program offers primary and secondary schools a sustainable model to introduce Apple technology into the classroom. By directly involving families, it enables the subsidized purchase of iPad and Mac, promoting more inclusive and digital learning. Kyron, an Apple Authorised Education Specialist, supports schools with tailored solutions: dedicated discounts, training services and technical assistance. A concrete answer to the need to integrate 1:1 devices even without public funding, ensuring continuity and innovation in teaching.
A growing trend
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) approaches have long been gaining ground in education: from managed deployments to the freedom of choice offered to parents about what their children can bring to class. According to Futuresource, the lack of consistency in what BYOD agreements specify for students is fuelling potential issues around classroom management, as well as the safety and well-being of learners. Unmanaged BYOD deployments can present challenges such as unreliable technical support, inequity among learners, insufficient professional development for teaching staff and significant complications for IT departments. Long-term success for BYOD programs relies on effective deployment strategies.
What are PFDs?
Parent Funded Devices (PFDs) should be treated as traditional institutional purchases. They are requested, controlled and supervised by the institution, but purchased by parents or guardians. BYOD devices, on the other hand, do not meet these criteria: they are considered personal property, bought from retailers and brought to school by the student, thus offering the IT department fewer management capabilities.
Why PFDs for parents?
Online safety: in a Safer Internet Centre report, 74% of parents and guardians fear that the rapidly evolving online world poses safety risks for children. Because parent-funded devices are fully managed and supervised, IT teams have very broad control: they can filter web content, restrict access to specific sites or categories and impose further limitations, such as preventing app installation or blocking access to the App Store. Screen time: according to UNESCO, prolonged usage time can negatively affect self-control and emotional stability. Using mobile device management (MDM) with Apple School Manager, IT teams can apply policies to reduce distractions and configure devices for educational purposes. Cost: according to a Parentkind survey, 47% of parents struggle to afford sending their children to school. Apple products are reliable and built to last, and a PFD program is an opportunity to offer trade-in options, financing plans or tailored device packages.