School Improvement Team:

(Your school improvement team should consist of a variety of stakeholders within your school community including parents)

Instructional Overview  

Provide descriptive information related to the curriculum, instructional programs, professional learning and existing interventions utilizing a Response to Intervention approach to support the academic needs of students.

Provide explicit connections to your  school’s instructional overview and how it supports and aligns with GOAL 1: Empowered Students of the LCPS Strategic Plan and Goal 2.1 Offer high-quality Ongoing Growth and Development available to all staff; 2.2 Develop dedicated resources to improve Professional Collaboration across schools and the division

Virtual Loudoun is the online learning platform encompassing three branches of virtual learning opportunities with Loudoun County Public Schools, Virtual Loudoun Online, Virtual Distance Learning and Virtual Distance Elementary.

 Virtual Distance Elementary (VDE) is the full-time elementary (grades 1-5) learning program that offers synchronous, daily instruction via Google Meet and Schoology. This program offers optional Distance Learning for students in Loudoun County Public Schools.  Students enrolled in Virtual Distance Elementary take all of their classes from a distance, without attending a brick-and-mortar school in person. For the 2025-2026 school year, Distance Learning was open to all LCPS students to equitably apply for academic preference.  The Principal leads staff in the development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive educational program in accordance with School Board Policies and Administrative Regulations.

Courses are by synchronous Google Meet with students and teachers signed on together. Course content is assigned and completed using the Schoology Learning Management system.  Students are actively engaged in classwork, homework, and other assignments personalized for their mastery learning. Students who enroll in Virtual Distance Elementary make a one year commitment to receiving all of their schooling in the Distance Learning format. Students from all over Loudoun County attend Distance Learning classes together.  Classes follow a regular LCPS school day bell schedule and attendance in a Google Meet is required each day. For VDE, students meet with their teacher daily with specials rotation for music, art, physical education and school counselor lessons.  Students engage with their teacher and classmates in real time. Students complete weekly assignments, readings, discussions, and group work, as well as exams and other activities designed to enhance learning outcomes, all at times that are determined and communicated by the teacher and aligned with LCPS instructional initiatives including Personalized Learning, Project Based Learning, Profile of a Graduate, and the One LCPS: 2027 Strategic Plan for Excellence.

Elementary Reading & Writing: Elementary Reading and Writing instruction is grounded in the science of reading and utilizes evidence based literacy practices that reflect the five pillars of literacy: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics and Word Study, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension, in addition to Writing.  Instruction across all areas of literacy is explicit and systematic, and aligned to the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs).  All classrooms are provided with state-approved resources consistent with the expectations of the Virginia Literacy Act.  Students are empowered through the integration of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Into Reading as the core instructional resource that supports each of the five pillars of literacy.  Teachers are provided with continuous professional development to support implementation of best practices for literacy instruction.  Each student’s literacy progress is monitored through state provided assessments (Virginia Language and Literacy Screener [VALLSS]) or through the use of Measures of Academic Progress (MAP).  Students who have identified areas of need are provided with differentiated classroom instruction and/or evidence-based intervention.  Using the LCPS decision trees as guidance, tiered supports are provided to students that align with expectations outlined in the Virginia Literacy Act.  Grade level teachers are provided with professional learning on specific intervention strategies and programs.  To support this collective and ongoing effort of providing high-quality literacy instruction, and intervention, all teachers engage in Literacy data meetings.  During these instances, teachers are able to collaborate and share student progress, strategize, and plan instruction for all students. 

At Virtual Loudoun, we follow the 5 C’s, providing rigor instruction VLA training, after school tutoring, focus on reading and comprehension and reading scores to drive Tiered support via MTSS interventions

Math: LCPS Math Curriculum and instruction uses a math workshop structure and focuses on student-centered learning activities that include daily number sense routines and reflection. Teachers plan small-group targeted instruction, varying the groups regularly.  Instruction prioritizes hands-on, inquiry-based learning focusing on conceptual understanding using representations and models/manipulatives. Instruction also emphasizes the implementation of the Process Goals and the 5Cs through student collaboration, reasoning, communicating, making connections, and problem-solving.  Students who have identified areas of need are provided with differentiated classroom instruction and/or explicitly taught, evidenced-based intervention.  We also have tutoring to support students in grades 1-5.  

Science: LCPS science programs are designed to actively engage students in the process of science and use reasoning processes that build scientific thinking. These programs teach students to know, use, and interpret scientific explanations of the natural world; to generate and evaluate scientific evidence and explanations; to understand the nature and development of scientific knowledge; and to participate productively in scientific practices and discourse.

Social Sciences & Global Studies: Social Science and Global Studies instruction in LCPS is grounded in a culturally responsive approach to the content in a way that elevates multiple perspectives. Students are empowered through authentic, inquiry-based learning experiences that promote students' development of  historical thinking skills and provide opportunities to make their thinking visible.  Students demonstrate their understanding, knowledge and skills through authentic performance tasks.

At Virtual Loudoun, we have a focus on the 5 C’s (Collaborator, Communicator, Contributor, Creator and Critical Thinker) and the Profile of a Graduate for authentic learning and assessing and critical thinking with the content.

Comprehensive Needs Assessment

Academic Achievement

A summary providing evidence of analysis of trends, patterns, proficiency, and growth in student academic achievement data.  Provide a clear connection between outcomes and contributing factors.

The Distance Learning Elementary (VDE) School Improvement, SIP team reviewed math scores for VDE students with a focus on improving MAP growth scores.

Goals for the 25-26 school year include: Improving their MAP Math growth scores from the current Yellow band (below 61st percentile) to reach the 61st to 80th percentile. Moving us from the low growth to the high growth quadrant on MAP.

*Distance Learning Elementary students (VDE) will focus on success with mathematics with analysis of MAP data, Kiddom training, Magna Math training, Math discourse, and math workshops.

Comprehensive Needs Assessment

Student Engagement

A summary of trends, patterns, strengths and areas for growth in student engagement data, including attendance, discipline, perceptual data, and graduation data (HS only).

The Distance Learning Elementary (VDE) School Improvement, SIP team reviewed connectedness across our virtual community and identified the need to build community through clubs, lunch bunches, morning meetings, and combined grade level activities.

Goals for the 25-26 school year include: To create more schoolwide, cross grade-level community opportunities.

*Distance Learning Elementary students (VDE) will focus on the learning environment and student/community connectedness.

Extended Learning and Engagement Opportunities

Provide information to describe extended learning and engagement opportunities for students, families, and community including what events you have planned or are considering hosting.

Provide explicit connections to your school’s extended learning and engagement opportunities and how they support and align with GOAL 4: Engaged Community of the LCPS Strategic Plan, especially GOAL 4.1 Deepen Family Engagement by offering inclusive opportunities for conversation across the division.

Extended Learning:

The Virtual Distance Elementary (VDE) elementary program content offerings are aligned with brick-and mortar elementary classrooms, including specials rotations of art, music, physical education and school counselor lessons.  

Family and Community Engagement Opportunities:

Our goal at Virtual Loudoun is to create a community feel of connectedness, inclusion and support.  We work to engage students and families continually with school day activities and connections, and after school clubs, EADL, tutoring, virtual guest speakers, spirit weeks, virtual assemblies, virtual field trips, virtual graduation celebrations, volunteer opportunities and community pickups.

Climate and Culture

Provide a description of strategies that address the needs of all children in the school, but particularly the needs of those at risk of not meeting the challenging state academic standards, through activities such as counseling, social emotional learning and mental health programs, and PBIS implementation.

Make explicit connections to the LCPS Strategic Plan goals of 1.3 Prioritize Care for Students by

ensuring a safe and affirming learning environment for all;  

School specific narrative At VDE, our focus is to build culture, improve student engagement, and promote connectedness among the students and community.  

Social Emotional Learning (SEL): The social-emotional learning framework provides students with explicit SEL instruction, practice and reinforcement of skills through academic integration, and a supportive environment that cultivates relationships, belonging, safety and a student-centered approach. The framework is supported by the involvement of all community members, including staff, students, families and community partners.  

At Virtual Loudoun, we support SEL for elementary students through morning meets and secondary students through daily advisory lessons.  We utilize Second Step curriculum for middle school students and Wayfinder content for high school lessons.