Loudoun Shifting To Internet-Based Education Due To Coronavirus

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Loudoun County Public Schools began distributing Chromebooks Wednesday to students in grades 3-12 who do not already have one. The county schools system also has purchased mobile hotspots to help ensure students have access to Internet-based instruction during the extended closure of schools due to the new coronavirus, or COVID-19.

School principals have been contacting students and their families about the process for distributing Chromebooks. Students in grades 3-12 who do not have a Loudoun County Public Schools Chromebook and have not heard from their principal should contact the principal to learn more about the county plan.

The Loudoun County school system is prioritizing the distribution of hotspots to students in grades 3-12 in households with the greatest need. There is a limit of one hotspot per household. To request a device, families must complete the online form or call the Loudoun County Public Schools Technology Support Center at 571-252-2112 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

On Monday, after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced that school buildings would be closed statewide for the remainder of the school year, the Virginia Department of Education published Guidance on Graduation Requirements, Awarding of Credits, and Continuity of Learning.

Get the latest updates on the new coronavirus in Virginia as they happen. Sign up for free news alerts and a newsletter in your Patch town.

The guidance includes considerations for assessment and grading, providing continuity of education throughout the school closure, and specific flexibility for school districts with regard to graduation requirements.

James Lane, Virginia's superintendent of public instruction, said Tuesday in a statement that "the governor and I agree that every student who was on a trajectory toward earning a diploma should be able to graduate on time and move on to the next stage of his or her life.”

The Loudoun County Public Schools system said it is in the process of reviewing the guidance and determining the most appropriate next steps to meet the needs of all 84,000 students in the county.

Meanwhile, the school system is continuing to provide grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches for pickup at 28 schools. Buses also are distributing meals to stops across the county. The school system has put together an interactive map for families to determine the best location to pick up meals.

RELATED:

• VA Governor Orders Schools Closed For Rest Of Year: Coronavirus
• Loudoun Schools Consolidate Meal Sites During Coronavirus Closure