Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) is taking proactive steps to protect students in today’s increasingly complex digital world with the launch of a new Internet Safety and Prevention Task Force focused on education, awareness, and prevention of Internet crimes affecting children and families.
The task force, which held its first meeting on January 8, 2026, reflects the commitment of WCPS to student safety both in schools and online. While online threats may sometimes feel distant, these risks are occurring right here in Southwest Virginia.
The task force brings together a diverse group of partners, including parents, teachers, school administrators, counselors, mental health professionals, and law enforcement. Representatives at the inaugural meeting included the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Virginia State Police, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Abingdon Town Police Department, and the Children’s Advocacy Center.
The group’s goals include:
Increasing awareness of current and emerging online threats
Sharing prevention strategies and educational resources
Strengthening communication and collaboration among schools, families, and community partners
Supporting proactive measures to keep students safe online
During the meeting, WCPS announced a resource provided through the Virginia Attorney General’s Office called Proxyware, a cutting-edge Internet safety technology designed to detect and disrupt online threats targeting children.
According to Proxyware data:
82% of teens have been exposed to violent content online
77% have seen online content involving drugs or alcohol
75% have encountered sexual content while online
Additionally, Proxyware has detected 192,000 digital attacks targeted at Virginia children while at school during the current calendar year alone. Unlike traditional cybersecurity tools such as firewalls – which focus on blocking known harmful websites – Proxyware detects harmful activity on trusted platforms such as search engines, news sites, educational tools, and online games. Using artificial intelligence and synthetic personas that emulate children online, the system proactively identifies predators and disrupts threats before students are harmed.
As part of its ongoing commitment to Internet safety, WCPS is in the process of implementing several measures across the division, including:
Locking down YouTube access
Providing parents with after-hours device controls (middle school pilot program)
Restricting incoming, external email communication for elementary and middle school students
Updating take-home device policies by grade level
Establishing screen time limits by grade
Internet safety assemblies for students in grades 4-6
Presentations led by the FBI and Virginia State Police
Family engagement nights to assist parents with device setup and controls
Continued evaluation of Proxyware implementation
Washington County Public Schools will continue to share updates as the task force’s work progresses and encourages families to partner with schools in promoting safe and responsible digital use.