All LCPS students and staff will be required to wear masks

Loudoun County Public Schools announced on Aug. 2, all students and staff will be required to wear masks for indoor activities at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.

School starts on Thursday, Aug. 26.

While this action conforms with Chapter 456 of the Code of Virginia (formerly Senate Bill 1303), which requires schools to open for in-person instruction this fall, maximizing the opportunity for students to continue to learn in a safe, consistent in-person learning environment is an LCPS priority for the 2021-2022 school year.

 Chapter 456 passed during a special session of the Virginia General Assembly on March 30, 2021 directing that Virginia’s school divisions open for in-person instruction and adhere to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance related to COVID-19. 

“We know students and families have been waiting for news on mask-wearing and other mitigation measures in LCPS schools this fall,” said Superintendent Dr. Scott A. Ziegler.

“We have been closely monitoring information from the CDC, the Virginia Department of Health, and our own county’s transmission rates to make the most informed decision possible. With the mandate of 456 (formerly SB1303) to maximize in-person learning and to follow CDC guidance it was important to have the most updated information possible to inform our return to school this fall.”  

On July 27, the CDC recommended that everyone in K through 12 schools wear a mask indoors, including teachers, staff, students and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status. Read more about CDC guidance.

“We realize that our desire for in-person learning is currently being challenged by rising community risk in Loudoun County, and the potential impact of the Delta variant on students and our community and we will continue to monitor developing conditions and data,” Ziegler stated. “Mask wearing will minimize the need for quarantining, helping us keep students in the classroom.” 

What this means for LCPS students and staff is:

• All students and staff will be required to wear face coverings at the start of the 2021-22 school year, regardless of their vaccination status. This decision aligns with recommendations by the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Loudoun County Health Department. According to the Loudoun County Health Department, 239,955 Loudoun residents (58 percent) are vaccinated. During the past month, the number of new cases of COVID-19 have increased significantly in Loudoun County, Virginia and throughout the United States, fueled by the coronavirus Delta variant. The  Loudoun County Health Department strongly recommends that everyone aged 12 years and older get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccines are free for everyone and widely available. Visit this site to schedule a vaccination.
• Masks will be provided to LCPS students and staff who do not have them.
• If a student with COVID-19 is within 3 to 6 feet of other students, the other students will not be considered “close contacts” if all the students are wearing masks. This will help reduce the need for quarantine and keep students in school.
• Students will be required to wear masks on school buses. This follows LCPS’ practice for students participating in summer school and the CDC’s requirements for public transportation. 
• Students will not be required to wear masks during recess, PE or other outdoor recreational/extra-curricular activities 
• For indoor team practices and games, participants will wear masks while on the sidelines, but may remove them during play.  
• Schools will be open at 100 percent capacity for five-day-a-week learning for all students on August 26.

The safety and health of students and staff is a primary focus of Loudoun County Public Schools. Masking regulations could change if directives from local, state and national health agencies make it advisable. Visit ReturnToSchool2021.