The LCPS Letter
School starts on Thursday, Aug. 21. We look forward to welcoming your student back to school. Below are some ways to help the first day of school go more smoothly.
Register Your New LCPS Student
If your student is new to LCPS, please register them as soon as possible. Don't wait for the first day of school to register your new LCPS student.
Update Immunizations
Ensure that your student -- especially kindergarten, 7th and 12th grade students -- has their required immunizations. These immunizations are required by Virginia Code and help keep all students healthy. Once your student is vaccinated, please provide their school with the appropriate documentation. Students need the required immunizations to attend school.
Complete Online Verification and See Your Student's Class and Bus Schedule
As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 80% of parents and guardians had completed their student’s Online Verification. Many thanks to these families for completing this important first task of the school year! If you have not yet completed Online Verification, there is still time. Just log into ParentVUE, confirm your student’s information and answer the opt-in questions. Once these steps are complete you will be able to view your student’s bus and class schedules. If you do not have a ParentVUE account, please contact your student’s school to request an Activation Letter. See the Online Verification webpage for more information about this process.
Check the First Day Webpage for Important Information
Visit the First Day webpage for important information and FAQs to help start the school year.
A new school year often brings a mix of excitement, curiosity and nerves. As families, you play a key role in helping your student feel supported and ready for the year ahead. Here are a few ways to ease the transition:
Start routines early
Adjust sleep schedules gradually in the weeks leading up to the first day.
Practice the morning routine so it feels familiar and smooth.
Build comfort and confidence
Visit the school together before the first day.
Attend open house or meet-the-teacher events.
Prepare for learning
Create a quiet, well-lit space for homework.
Encourage reading or learning activities to ease back into academics.
Review transportation plans and walk or drive the route together.
Reflect and Connect:
Take a moment to talk together about a time when you started something new. What helped you feel calm and confident?
As part of our efforts to provide an engaging learning experience, Loudoun County Public Schools uses a range of digital tools and services to support instruction and enhance student learning. Beginning this 2025-2026 school year, LCPS is now required by Google to ask parents to consent, or “opt-in,” for their students to be able to access third-party applications not designed explicitly for K-12 use, which are commonly used in instruction, like YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Translate.
LCPS already limits access to applications that are not required or recommended for learning to the greatest extent possible on LCPS-issued devices and student permissions vary according to their elementary, middle or high school level.
When you complete(d) the Online Verification process for your student(s), there is a box to opt your student in for these third-party applications for their use in learning. Teachers are currently planning alternative resources to offer students; however, if these third-party resources are needed, parents/guardians can easily update their preferences for their student(s)’ access. Simply return to your ParentVue account at any time, and update the choice. The LCPS technology department is working on implementing an efficient process so that students can use these services the day after consent is received. If you have questions, please read the posted Frequently Asked Questions or visit the list of LCPS-approved software.
Last spring, a few of our schools participated in an automated attendance notification program, and it was a great success! That program is now being expanded to all LCPS schools. As a result, you may find that attendance communications or emails reporting that your student is absent from school look a little different.
Starting this school year, all unexcused absence email notifications will be sent to families approximately 1.5 hours after the start of school for elementary schools and two hours after the start of school for middle and high schools.
As a reminder, if your student will be absent, please call your student’s school or report the absence through ParentVUE prior to the start of the school day.
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind parents to prioritize their student’s attendance in school. We understand that due to illness or other reasons, students may be absent from school, however, we encourage families to check the school calendar and schedule appointments or family trips during student holidays. We look forward to partnering with you to help ensure your student has a successful school year.
Every year, students are asked to start the year by bringing in some basic supplies they and their classmates will use throughout the year. In addition, LCPS provides every school with funds for classroom supplies and instructional equipment necessary throughout the school year. LCPS does not mandate how these funds are used. Principals work at the local level to ensure every teacher is well-prepared to support students when they return to school.
LCPS also supports classroom setups and supplies with designated allotments available directly to teachers. This is the 5th year LCPS has provided this support to teachers. While we know it may not fully outfit a classroom, the allotments, complemented by the school funds, can help LCPS teachers make sure their classrooms are set up to best support their work with students.
Through the teacher classroom supply allotment program, first-year teachers receive an allotment of $250, and returning teachers receive an allotment of $100. To access these funds, teachers simply coordinate purchases with their school’s financial technician or principal, who will provide them with access to online ordering through a school-supply vendor or with the school’s purchasing cards.
This established process helps make the dollars go further, streamlines tracking of purchases, and, importantly, avoids personal tax implications for the teachers.
A successful return to school involves so much more than school supplies. LCPS students also need coats, eyeglasses, basic necessities, and support with food. Find out more about how you or your business or nonprofit can support students in need, reach out to the Loudoun Education Foundation, the Division of Family and Community Engagement (FACE), or your school’s principal.
LCPS will continue using GoFan as the exclusive digital ticketing platform for athletic events. Beginning July 1, a small transaction fee will be added at checkout for single-event tickets and season passes. The division covered this fee during the first year of rollout but has not budgeted for this transaction fee in subsequent years, and having this fee included in the cost of a ticket will help LCPS continue to cover other costs associated with athletics. GoFan remains a reliable, secure and convenient option for purchasing tickets. It also helps reduce wait times and cash handling at events. This change reflects the division’s continued focus on managing resources responsibly while delivering a high level of service to the LCPS community.
Join us on Saturday, Sept. 20 starting at 9 a.m. at Morven Park for a powerful day of hope, action, and community as we come together to break the stigma surrounding substance use disorders.
Lace up for an inspiring 5K through the beautiful Morven Park.
Be moved by incredible speakers sharing their journeys of resilience.
Enjoy music, food trucks, and creative activities at our craft table.
This event, sponsored by the Prevention Alliance of Loudoun in partnership with Loudoun County Public Schools, Shatterproof, and other community partners, is more than just a race—it’s a movement.
Together, we can create change. Together, we can bring hope. Plan to be part of something meaningful—let’s shatter the stigma and stand Loudoun strong! Register today!
LCPS has already started to plan for Class of 2026 graduation ceremonies. Graduation ceremonies for LCPS schools and programs will take place between May 28 and June 17, 2026. Graduation ceremonies will be held at Eagle Bank Arena at George Mason University or at the school. See the complete list of graduation dates and locations.
One LCPS Spotlight: New Student Opportunities
The Loudoun County School Board held its first meeting of the 2025-2026 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 12. During the meeting, the School Board’s One LCPS Spotlight featured two exciting programs launching this year: ACCESS Academy and The Recovery School. Both reflect our commitment to meeting students where they are and supporting their academic and personal growth. Want to hear more? The full spotlight is available in BoardDocs or on Vimeo.
School Board Summary and Meeting Schedule
Read a summary of the Loudoun County School Board's Aug. 12 meeting. The School Board will meet again on a date yet to be determined to address agenda items from the Aug. 12 meeting. The next regularly scheduled School Board is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9. All School Board meetings are live-streamed. The full meeting agenda will be available on the Loudoun County School Board website (under Meetings) by approximately 5:30 p.m. on the Friday prior to the School Board meeting.
Policy Review
LCPS policies are reviewed every five years per the Code of Virginia. During this process, LCPS asks for input from advisory committees, stakeholder groups and the community at large. The following policy is under review:
Please see the Policy Review webpage for more details about policies currently under review and feedback submission deadlines. Providing input does not guarantee that the feedback will be included in the final policy. All feedback will be reviewed by the School Board Committee as they develop policies for submission to the entire School Board. The authority for final approval of any policy lies solely with the Loudoun County School Board.
