Henrico County Public Schools

Digital Wellness Guidance in HCPS

Technology in Support of Learning

Henrico County Public Schools is committed to empowering every learner through engaging, meaningful learning experiences that prepare students to become LifeReady. Guided by the school division’s strategic plan, Journey to 2030, and the Henrico Learner Profile, every decision is centered on what is best for students. The HCPS Digital Wellness Guidance strengthens that commitment by providing a clear, research-informed framework for making purposeful and balanced technology decisions that support student learning, student well-being, and the knowledge and durable skills students need to thrive in school and beyond.

Technology is most valuable when it:

Enhances teaching and learning
Expands opportunities for students to explore, create, collaborate, and communicate
Increases access and removes barriers to learning
Strengthens the knowledge and durable skills of the Henrico Learner Profile
Prepares students to become LifeReady

An informational flyer titled 'Digital Wellness in Henrico County Public Schools' featuring guidelines and resources.

Digital Wellness Guidance Overview Digital Wellness Guidance

Technology Use Expectations

Four shared expectations guide when and how technology supports student learning and well-being.

Purposeful

Technology is used when it meaningfully supports a clear learning goal.

Balanced

Technology is balanced with discussion, movement, reading, writing, creativity, and hands-on learning.

Developmentally Appropriate

Technology use reflects students’ ages, developmental and learning needs.

Active

Technology is used to create, communicate, collaborate, investigate, and think critically rather than passively consume.

A graphic shows four steps of student growth, from PK-2nd grade to 9th-12th grade graduation.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Purposeful Use

A blue graphic icon of two cupped hands gently holding a single puzzle piece.

Technology supports a specific learning purpose, not the default.

Green & Screen Time

Two notes labeled 'GREEN Time' with a sun icon and 'SCREEN Time' with a laptop icon.

Classroom visuals identify screen time and green time, building shared language around balanced technology use.

Distraction-Free Classrooms

A simple green backpack icon on a black background.

Devices are stored or closed when not in use, with non-instructional content blocked or restricted to reduce distractions.

Healthy Tech Habits

An orange figure stretches their arms beside a blue desk and chair with a laptop.

Screen breaks, movement, and healthy posture support student well-being.

Developmentally-Appropriate Access

A graphic illustration shows the progression of learning, from a small child reading to a student using a laptop, leading up to a star.

Technology use reflects each child’s age, grade, and individual learning needs.

Active, Hands-On Learning

Four colorful hands reach inward, touching a central blue puzzle made of four interconnected pieces.

Learning experiences engage students in thinking, doing, creating, and collaborating.

Focused & Safe

A blue icon depicts a person presenting a board with a shield and heart symbol to an audience.

Teachers guide healthy technology habits and use Securly Classroom to keep device use focused on learning.

Homework Practices

A green icon of a person writing or drawing with an orange pencil on a blue surface.

Homework expectations limit unnecessary screen use: no digital homework in elementary school; purposeful, high-impact screen-based homework in middle and high school.

Digital Wellness: A Shared Responsibility

Helping children develop healthy and responsible technology habits takes all of us. Research shows that when schools, families, students, and the community work together, students are better equipped to use technology in ways that support learning, well-being, and lifelong success. Schools, families, students, and the community work together to support student digital wellness through consistent expectations for purposeful, balanced, and responsible technology use.

Students — Learn & Practice
Teachers & Staff — Teach & Model
School Leaders — Lead & Support
Families — Reinforce & Partner
Community — Support & Connect

Explore

A green map icon features a dashed travel path connecting two location pins.

Clever Portal - Provides access to approved digital resources available for student learning.

Manage

A blue icon depicts a teacher and a student reading an open book together at a desk.

Securly Home - Helps families view digital resource activity and set healthy technology boundaries at home.

Monitor

A blue icon of a person pointing at a presentation board featuring a shield with a heart symbol.

Securly Classroom - Helps teachers guide and monitor device use during classroom instruction

Protect

An orange outline icon of a wooden picket fence.

Securly Filter - Blocks access to inappropriate and non-instructional content.

Safeguard

A simple graphic of a closed padlock with a yellow body and a dark blue shackle.

Privacy & Security - Ensures digital resources are reviewed for learning value, accessibility, privacy, and security before student use.

What Families Can Do at Home

Families play an important role in helping students develop safe, healthy, and responsible technology habits. HCPS is committed to partnering with families by providing information, resources, and ongoing communication that support digital wellness at school and at home.

Model

A graphic icon of a family gathered around a dinner table with a roasted turkey.

Model healthy technolodgy habits and reinforce balanced, responsible use at home.

Establish

A blue computer monitor icon displays a clock face on its screen.

Establish consistent expectations for devices, screen time, sleep, and family time.

Partner

A graphic illustration of two hands shaking, symbolizing agreement and partnership.

Partner with the school to address individual student technology needs.