Homeschool benefits and savings in Loudoun County
A Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL) Educator Card lets a homeschool teacher borrow up to 50 items for four weeks, with no overdue fines. Homeschool teachers who live or work in Loudoun County qualify by bringing a current homeschool status certification to any branch.
Who qualifies
Teaches at home
LCPL lists homeschool teachers among the educators eligible, along with K-12 teachers, childcare providers, and preschool teachers.
Lives or works in Loudoun
Educator Cards are for educators who work and/or live in Loudoun County.
Shows proof of status
Bring a current homeschool status certification or a similar document. Branch staff decide whether the documentation is valid.
What the card gives you
The limits come from LCPL's Borrowing page, which lists the Educator Card next to the loan rules for personal cards.
- Items out on the Educator Card
- 50
- Educator Card loan period
- 4 weeks
- Personal card loan period for most items
- 3 weeks
- Overdue fines
- None
- Card length
- 1 year
Items count as lost 21 days past the due date and are billed at replacement cost, though the charge is waived if the item comes back.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather your proof
Bring a photo ID with your current address and your current homeschool status certification.
- At the branch
Ask for an Educator Card
Apply in person at any LCPL branch; staff review your documents and issue the card.
- Each checkout
Return within four weeks
Keep the card for teaching use and return items within the four-week loan period.
- By Oct. 1 each year
Renew at a branch
Educator Cards expire every October 1. Renew in person with current proof of educator status.
What it includes
Included
- Up to 50 items for teaching
- Four-week loans
- No overdue fines
Not included
- Interlibrary loan
- Personal, non-teaching use
The Educator Card is for professional use and does not replace a personal card, so keep family borrowing on your own account.
Who to contact about the card
Any LCPL branch can issue an Educator Card and answer questions about your account.
703-771-5626 Contact the library
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Virginia
You must file the annual notice of intent by August 15. If you move into a Virginia division or begin after the school year starts, notify the division as soon as practicable and complete the filing within 30 days of the notice.
Virginia sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide a curriculum and include a list of the coming year’s subjects with the annual notice. The home-instruction statute does not require the public-school curriculum.
- Testing: Submit evidence of progress by August 1 after the school year. Children under six on September 30 of that school year are exempt from this assessment requirement.
- Records: Submit the annual notice, subject list, proof of a qualifying route, and required evidence of progress. Keep copies; no routine portfolio or attendance-log filing is required.
- Teachers: Qualify through a high-school diploma, Board-prescribed teaching qualifications, providing a curriculum or program of study, or evidence that you can provide an adequate education.
Read the Virginia homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Virginia
Questions parents ask
- Do I still need my own library card with an LCPL Educator Card?
- Yes. The Educator Card is for professional use only and is not a substitute for a personal card.
- Can my children get their own LCPL cards?
- Yes. Children under 18 can apply in person with a parent or guardian, or with a signed paper application, and staff can help arrange cards for students.
- What if we return something late?
- Nothing happens unless the item is lost or damaged. LCPL charges no late fees, and a lost-item charge is waived when the item is returned.
- We live outside Loudoun. Can we still borrow?
- Only with a reciprocal card. Residents of reciprocal areas such as Falls Church, Alexandria, Winchester, and DC can apply for one with a photo ID and proof of address.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Books and library resources give your child something to explore. We turn their interests into coursework, so library discoveries can lead to deeper study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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