Digital Learning

Navigating the Digital World

In Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), we value the rich learning and communication environment that technology brings to our students, classrooms, and family lives.  We believe that our students must be taught to make good choices as they interact in these places for learning and for fun.  We believe that with parents and families as our partners, we can help our students to gain skills and understanding that will enable them to be responsible, vigilant, and safe in these digital environments.

Illustration of a globe surrounded by digital icons, a pencil, and a keyboard, representing global digital learning and communication.

Copyright and Creative Credit

Loudoun County Public Schools has adopted the following beliefs and practices by collaborating with local, state, and federal organizations in our efforts to secure and protect the privacy of our students.

What is LCPS' approach to teaching copyright?

We are committed to preparing our students to respect the intellectual property of others and to value their own work as creators. Our students are taught about the laws of copyright and how to safely use content and attribute it when necessary.

What can be done? Students, parents, teachers:

  1. Know the symbols:

  2. Request permission

  3. Acknowledge the author or content creator

  4. Buy it (if necessary)

  5. Use it responsibly

Word cloud featuring terms related to copyright, such as 'trademark,' 'patent,' 'legal,' and 'fair use.

Student Data

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) developed student data governance guidelines to ensure the accuracy, accessibility, consistency, and protection of students’ information. Data governance is a priority for LCPS.

We believe:

  • Student data should be used to further and support student learning and success.

  • Student data are most powerful when used for continuous improvement and personalizing student learning.

  • Student data should be used as a tool for informing, engaging, and empowering students, families, teachers, and school system leaders.

  • Students, families, and educators should have timely access to information collected about the student.

  • Student data should be used to inform and not replace the professional judgment of educators.

  • Students’ personal information should only be shared, under terms or agreement, with service providers for legitimate educational purposes; otherwise the consent to share must be given by a parent, guardian, or a student, if that student is over 18.

  • Educational institutions, and their contracted service providers with access to student data, including researchers, should have clear, publicly available rules and guidelines for how they collect, use, safeguard, and destroy those data.

  • Educators and their contracted service providers should only have access to the minimum student data required to support student success.

  • Everyone who has access to students’ personal information should be trained and know how to effectively and ethically use, protect, and secure it.

We also hold ourselves and our vendors to rigorous standards of data privacy and security.

Loudoun County Public Schools has been awarded the prestigious national Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Seal by the CoSN (Consortium for School Networking).

What can students do?

  • Think about all that you know about digital citizenship

  • Practice what you’ve learned when you are online

  • Tell an adult if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable

  • Remind your friends to be safe and secure online

TLE Information

The TLE (Trusted Learning Environment) Seal is a mark of distinction for school systems that demonstrate a strong commitment to student data privacy and security by meeting a rigorous set of standards.

Common Sense Logo