Qlik > Case Studies > Leveraging IoT and Data Analytics for Equitable Education: A Case Study of Loudoun County Public Schools

Leveraging IoT and Data Analytics for Equitable Education: A Case Study of Loudoun County Public Schools

Technology Category

Cybersecurity & Privacy - Identity & Authentication Management
Networks & Connectivity - WiFi

Applicable Industries

Buildings
Education

Applicable Functions

Procurement

Use Cases

Personnel Tracking & Monitoring

About The Customer

The customer in this case study is Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), a public school district in Loudoun County, Virginia. LCPS is one of the fastest-growing school divisions in the Commonwealth of Virginia and serves a diverse student population. The district is committed to providing a world-class education that meets the needs of all students, regardless of their circumstances. During the COVID-19 pandemic, LCPS faced the challenge of ensuring that all students had access to online learning resources, despite the fact that a small percentage of families and staff did not have internet access at home.

The Challenge

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) faced a significant challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the closure of schools, the district had to ensure that all students had access to online learning resources. However, a small percentage of families and staff did not have internet access at home. LCPS had procured 1,500 hotspots from various vendors, but the challenge was to distribute these devices equitably. The district needed to identify not just the students, but also the households that required internet access. A triage approach was established to prioritize the distribution based on the disadvantaged status of households, households with multiple students, and households with students in higher grade levels.

The Solution

To address this challenge, LCPS's Department of Digital Innovation was tasked with identifying families and staff who needed a WiFi hotspot. A Google form survey was sent out to public school families and staff to gather necessary information such as student name, address, school, and parent/guardian contact information. The survey results were then loaded into Qlik, a data analytics platform, and connected to additional data. A set of visualizations was developed to identify students and household counts, along with decision factors such as disadvantaged status, number of students in a household, and grade levels. By reviewing the data, LCPS was able to identify specific clusters of need and prioritize the distribution of hotspots. As hotspots were distributed, data was reloaded and adjustments were made based on usage metrics and feedback from principals.

Operational Impact

The use of Qlik and data analytics significantly improved LCPS's ability to identify households in need of hotspots and quickly contact and deploy devices. The solution enabled the district to ensure that all students had access to online learning resources, regardless of their circumstances. It also allowed for a more efficient and equitable distribution of resources. The data-driven approach provided valuable insights that informed decision-making and enabled the district to respond effectively to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The solution also demonstrated the potential of IoT and data analytics in enhancing educational equity and access.

Quantitative Benefit

1,500 hotspots were procured and distributed equitably among families and staff.
The solution enabled LCPS to identify specific clusters of need and prioritize the distribution of hotspots.
The data-driven approach allowed for adjustments to be made based on usage metrics and feedback.