All public schools in Harford County will be closed on days when roads, school parking lots, and/or school driveways/walkways are considered to be unsafe for school bus transportation. The decision to close is made by the Superintendent of Schools as early as possible on the morning in question. In the vast majority of cases, this is prior to 6:00 a.m. This determination is made after consulting with the state police, the state and county highway departments, and other sources of information in different parts of the county.

Some weather conditions make it advisable to delay the opening time of schools. In such situations, the delayed prekindergarten plan will be in effect for half day programs.

• If schools are delayed one hour, morning half-day pre-kindergarten will start at 10:00 a.m.; afternoon half-day pre-kindergarten will proceed as originally scheduled. Full-day pre-kindergarten programs will follow the school system schedule.



• If schools are delayed two hours there will be no morning half-day pre-kindergarten or early intervention programs; afternoon half-day pre-kindergarten will proceed as originally scheduled. Full-day pre-kindergarten programs will follow the school system schedule.

Any change from the normal school schedule as a result of inclement weather – snow, ice, heat, etc. – will be communicated via the Alert Now rapid telephone notification system and on radio and television stations broadcast to the public In addition, closings will be listed at the top of the home page of the HCPS web site at http://www.hcps.org.

Parents have the right not to send their children to school if they feel travel conditions are unsafe. Children will be marked as absent for the time they are not in school.