Every student's educational journey is unique, and maintaining a fair and supportive academic environment is crucial for our success and well-being. However, recent changes implemented by Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) have started to negatively impact students' experiences and academic performance.

Currently, LCPS has adjusted their retake policy, reducing the threshold for retaking from 80% to 70%. While I, personally, have not been impacted by this change yet, I have observed a significant decline in grades among many of my peers. This adjustment is making it increasingly difficult for students to maintain good grades, which ultimately affects their opportunities for future academic and career endeavors.

Additionally, the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments now count as 10% of our grades. This significant weight places undue stress on students, including myself, and does not accurately reflect our understanding and performance throughout the academic year. Educational assessments should provide insights into students’ learning and progress rather than contribute to increased anxiety and pressure.

Moreover, LCPS’s decision to ban certain websites is impacting our learning experiences, particularly in fields like Computer Science. Websites that provide sound effects or AI tools are essential resources for Computer Science classes and specialized BASAP clubs. These tools enrich learning experiences, offering students opportunities to engage creatively and practically with the curriculum. By blocking these digital resources, LCPS is limiting students’ ability to innovate and explore, consequently diminishing the quality of education.

We need LCPS to reconsider and revise these policies to ensure they truly serve the best interests of students. We urge the LCPS administration to restore the previous retake policy, reduce the impact of SOL assessments on final grades, and reinstate access to essential educational websites. Together, we can create a learning environment that fosters growth, reduces stress, and prepares us for the challenges of the future.

By signing this petition, you stand with the students of LCPS, advocating for positive changes in our educational system. Let's work together to make sure every student has access to the resources they need to succeed and experience a satisfying, stress-free academic journey. Sign now and help us create the change we need!

Note: The updates below are not written by AI:

January 6, 2026:

Alright. Things have gotten a lot worse. I at first thought the no phones policy was ok, but it is absolutely insane. My mom can't even text my sister to tell her about important things. Here is how this policy could be an issue:

If a parent needs to pick up their child but forgot the school's phone number.

If an older sibling needs to take the younger student somewhere because the parents cannot come, then the school may not believe it.

If there is an extreme at home emergency and the child NEEDS to be notified immediately, there isn't a direct way to notify the child.

If the child forgot a school item and they need it very soon, walking to the office to call the parent would take too long.

A parent simply needs to tell the child that they have to walk home.

LCPS could literally just monitor this better and not go and do crazy things.

 

Combined with the 70% retake policy, the game, AI, and website bans, and the 10% SOL policy, this will:

Make students have less fun.

Make grades worse.

Make bad behavior way more common(When kids are bored or are having a tough time, they go crazy)

Make students grumpy.

Make students not want to go to school.

Make students want to go to a better place for education.

Make students have a lot of stress on their shoulders.

Make classes like Computer Science and BASAP classes MUCH harder through the AI bans.

 

And that is why we need to stop LCPS!