Loudoun County Public Schools has implemented a new clear bag policy at the start of the 2025-2026 school year that permits only clear bags to enter into the stadiums for varsity football games. This policy, among other safety and security regulations, are efforts to ensure safety among students, parents, and staff who attend the popular school sporting events.
The first major implementations of a clear bag policy came from the NFL in 2013 in response to the Boston Marathon Bombing. However, the policy was not only for safety; it was also in an attempt to speed up the security process for fans who come into professional stadiums. Since 2013, many other major sport leagues including the MLB and NHL have adopted similar policies.
“If you go anywhere these days–concerts, NFL games, NBA games, or anything like that where you’re going inside somewhere–it’s automatic: clear bags,” Safety and Security Officer Melissa Bridge said. “I think it’s just now getting to the high school level. It’s an unfortunate thing, but I think at the same time, it gives us all that sense of safety and security.”
In the three weeks between when students found out about the policy and when the first home football game occurred, concerns were raised about the logistics of this new policy, with many wondering how entering football games was subject to change.
“My only concern is to be consistent and make sure we are actually doing it as it is written,” Student Activities and Engagement Coordinator Phillip Campbell said. “That’s the thing with any policy. It can look good on paper, but how is it actually implemented? I just hope that it is staffed and run accordingly. I think we’ve all been to concerts where it’s like ‘Oh, just go ahead.’ I guess I just looked innocent.”
New precautions, including signs about the new policy near the stadium entrance and an increase in security, were prevalent at the game. Additionally, the county has partnered with Allied, a security company that helps with the searchings of permitted bags such as camera, medical, and diaper bags.
“We’re always at football games to ensure [safety]; not only us, but our school resource officers are always at the games, and then we usually have three SSOs and two more SROs, depending on how big the game is,” Mrs. Bridge said. “I think Loudoun County Public Schools and Stone Bridge High School have done a really great job of communicat[ing] well in advance.”
These precautions taken to ensure a smooth transition into a safer environment are becoming common among public schools in the United States. With a spike in mass school shootings in recent years, LCPS hopes for this policy to help prevent these incidents.
“My initial reaction is that [the policy] it’s a safety thing, it’s probably more to do with, unfortunately, the things that we see in the news a lot,” Mr. Campbell said. “People ask me every time something happens. Some friend of mine or family member will call and ask, ‘Do you ever think about these kinds of things,’ and I’m like ‘Yeah, I work at a school.’ I’m not going to lie.”
The policy, not only affecting students but parents as well, gives staff a lot to look after during the entry of varsity football games. The typical passion found at football games, whether it be in the dog pound erupting with students cheering or the band’s drums being heard even off campus, is hard to miss. Many hope that this policy doesn’t dwindle this hyped environment, and if anything, exemplifies it.
“You can spin it any way, whether it’s alcohol, drugs, weapons, or misbehav[ing] students,” Mrs. Bridge said. “We’re just trying to keep all of that negativity outside the fencing of our stadium. We’re here to have a good time, we’re here to feel safe, and we’re here for one thing and one thing only, and that’s to watch a good football game.”
As the kinks are worked out for LCPS’s new system, there will be additional opportunities to expand this policy. Because the current policy applies specifically to varsity football games, the serious question of safety at other crowded events may need to be addressed.
“I think the logical next step would probably be varsity basketball games,” Athletic Director Joan Windows said. “It’s a little harder because it’s inside the building, so kids are going to have their backpack. To actually get into the gym, maybe we don’t have backpacks or purses or any other bags inside the gym when we have a basketball game going on.“
Even with the future of other sporting events being unclear, LCPS’s response to combat unsafe situations like underage drinking and gun violence is a clear step toward a more positive and safe school environment.
“I think most people realize it is here to stay, so they are going to try and figure out a way to make it work,” Mrs. Windows said. “If it deters someone from bringing something in that they shouldn’t bring in, then I’m all for it.”
