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As of Friday, May 24, 2013 1:00 AM:
WAIVER REQUEST APPROVED: The last day of school for Kindergarten – 11th grade is Tuesday, June 11. The last day for Pre-Kindergarten is Friday, June 7. School IS OPEN on April 29 and 30. CLICK for more information.
  1. question How do I find out if I qualify for pre-kindergarten?
     
  2. question How do I register my child for school?
     
  3. question What immunizations are required for school?
     
  4. question How can I find out what school my child will attend?
     
  5. question How do I apply for a Boundary Exception for my child to attend a different school?
     
  6. question Where can I find my child’s school supply list?
     
  7. question How do I sign my child up for tutoring?
     
  8. question How can I follow-up on an application I submitted for employment?
     
  9. question How can I find out about employment opportunities and/or current vacancies?
     
  10. question How can I find more information about substitute teaching?
     
  11. question Are the swimming pools at North Harford and Edgewood middle schools open for public use?
     
  12. question How do I find out more information and apply for a magnet program?
     
  13. question Where can I find the school year calendar?
     
  14. question How is the calendar for each school year developed?
     
  15. question Where can I find information on assessment scores and other important facts about HCPS?
     
  16. question Where do I find information on bus routes?
     
  17. question Where can I find information about home schooling?
     
  18. question How can I find information on volunteering with a school?
     
  19. question How do I find out information on obtaining my GED?
     
  20. question How can I obtain a copy of my diploma or transcripts?
     
  21. question How do I reserve school facilities?
     
  22. question Where can I find information on Harford County Public Schools’ energy management and environmental stewardship?
     

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  1. question How do I find out if I qualify for pre-kindergarten?
    Information about the Pre-Kindergarten program in Harford County Public Schools is listed under the Parents tab, right here. In order to be eligible, the student must be four years old before September 1st of that school year. To date in the state of Maryland, prekindergarten is not mandatory; it is an application process based on age eligible children and the economic status of the family. Harford County Public Schools does not have prekindergarten in every elementary school. Children receiving services prior to prekindergarten through HCPS are not guaranteed enrollment. The schools that house pre-k are listed on the link above.
     
  2. question How do I register my child for school?
    Registration information and requirements are available by clicking here. Applications for Prekindergarten are available in schools beginning the first Friday in May and throughout the summer. Enrollment is not based on a "first come, first serve" basis. Registration for Kindergarten students begins on the first Friday in May and is continuous throughout the summer. Other elementary students and secondary students can be registered at any time which is convenient to the school and the parents/guardians. Parents/guardians are asked to call the school to arrange for appointments for registering their children. It is recommended that this registration occur as early as possible during the summer.

    Parents must live in the school attendance area of the school in which they plan to enroll their child. Use the School Locator to help determine your attendance area. For a geographical view, see the School Boundary Maps. Students must be registered by the custodial parent (biological, adoptive, legal guardian). Parents/guardians who are unable to register their children at the scheduled time in May should call the school for an appointment.
     
  3. question What immunizations are required for school?
    Immunization requirements for Maryland schools are listed on this page of our website.
     
  4. question How can I find out what school my child will attend?
    To determine which school your child is supposed to attend, you may use our School Locator by inputting your address. For questions, contact the Transportation Department at 410-638-4092.
     
  5. question How do I apply for a Boundary Exception for my child to attend a different school?
    Here is some information for a Boundary Exception which requires specific reasoning or justification for why a student needs to attend a different school other than the one in your district. You can contact the Pupil Personnel Worker for the area school your child is currently districted to attend to apply for this exception.
     
  6. question Where can I find my child’s school supply list?
    In order to find out the school supply list for your child, you would need to contact the school your child attends. Each school individually selects the school supply list from year to year. Some retail stores post the school supply lists and many schools post the list on their school website. But, your school would be able to directly provide you with the list. Here is a school directory to find out the appropriate phone numbers.
     
  7. question How do I sign my child up for tutoring?
    Tutoring is available for elementary and secondary students in a variety of subject areas. Use the Tutor Referral Card to contact the appropriate office to set up tutoring for your child.
     
  8. question How can I follow-up on an application I submitted for employment?
    For questions and requests regarding an application for employment, please contact our Human Resources Department at 410-588-5238.
     
  9. question How can I find out about employment opportunities and/or current vacancies?
    For more information, click this link to the Job Opportunities section of our website, or call 410-588-5238.
     
  10. question How can I find information about substitute teaching?
    For information on becoming a substitute, visit the Become a Sub Teacher Webpage and follow the steps provided.

    If you are already an HCPS substitute, you may visit the webpage for Current HCPS Substitutes for information about the sub system. The phone number for the SFE System is 410-638-4625 and the web address is sems.hcps.org. You will need to use your access ID and PIN to log in. For questions regarding substitute teaching, email subsupport@hcps.org or contact the Sub Helpdesk at 410-588-5225.

  11. question Are the swimming pools at North Harford and Edgewood middle schools open for public use?
    The pools are open during the summer, but they are used to hold summer swim programs for students and other various activities and programs. Neither school is open for public swimming at any time. The Physical Education Department coordinates a Summer Swim Instruction program for student, K-12, each year. Enrollment is handled through this office each summer at 410-588-5249.
     
  12. question How do I find out more information and apply for a magnet program?
    Magnet program information is available online. An online application for these programs will also be available during enrollment periods on this page. For questions on these programs, call 410-809-6069, or contact the individual school.
     
  13. question Where can I find the school year calendar?
    HCPS School Calendars are listed in the Calendar Section, which is also linked on the left-hand column of the homepage above the calendar image.
     
  14. question How is the calendar for each school year developed?
    There is a specific process that is put into place in order to plan out the calendar each year. The calendar for 2010-2011, for example, was planned out in February/March of 2009. Public opinion is sought every year regarding the calendar. Each year, the Board of Education of Harford County appoints an Ad Hoc Calendar Committee to make a proposal for the “out year” Harford County Public School calendar. The 24-person committee – composed of representatives from the community and the school system – is charged with creating a proposed calendar for the year after the coming school year. The Board established the practice of creating a two-year calendar for the benefit of the community and school system for advanced planning. The committee meets and attempts to reach consensus on the proposed “out year” calendar during the month of March. The proposal is forwarded to the Superintendent who reviews it and makes a recommendation to the Board to adopt the calendar as proposed by the committee or with suggested changes. The Board receives the Superintendent’s proposal at a public business meeting, holds the proposal over for at least one meeting to allow for public comment (the proposed calendar is placed on the HCPS web site), and then votes to adopt a calendar for the “out year” at a subsequent meeting. Board of Education meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of the month in Bel Air at the Central Office building.

    There is also specific school system policy that is required to be abided by in each calendar including a minimum of six potential inclement weather days, state/federal school holidays and state regulations. Maryland requires that students attend a minimum of 180 school days and teachers work a minimum of 190 days. The first day of school is decided based on where the last day of school would fall, including potential inclement weather days, which often prolong the end of the school year.
     
  15. question Where can I find information on assessment scores and other important data about HCPS?
    Each school has a School Profile which includes information on assessment scores, demographics and other pertinent information about the school. Additionally, system-wide assessment information can be find in the ‘Schools’ tab in the State of the Schools document and the Facts Brochure.
     
  16. question Where do I find information on bus routes?
    Click here for some information about transportation and bus routes for the system. This page is updated during the summer months each year with current school year bus routes and information. The HCPS Transportation Department can provide answers to questions and concerns regarding these bus routes, as well as the attendance areas. You can reach that department at 410-638-4092.
     
  17. question Where can I find information about home instruction?
    Information on our home schooling requirements can be found on our website by clicking here. There is also a brochure on the home instruction program and frequently asked questions. If you still have questions after reading these sections, you can scroll down towards the bottom of the page and contact the appropriate Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW) for your school area. The PPW can help you with anything you may need to set up home instruction.
     
  18. question How can I find information on volunteering with a school?
    Here is some information about volunteering in our schools on our website. It’s under the Community tab at the top of our homepage. If you are interested in volunteering with a school, you should contact the school directly to find more information.
     
  19. question How do find out information on obtaining a GED?
    GED information and coursework is available through Harford Community College by visiting www.harford.edu or calling 443-412-2152.
     
  20. question How can I obtain a copy of my diploma or transcripts?
    To obtain a copy of your high school diploma or school records, please fill out an official form (Diploma Request Form or Transcript Request Form) and send it to the appropriate address by mail on the form. If you have any questions regarding this process, send an email to laura.wade@hcps.org or through the HCPS Contact Form.
     
  21. question How do I reserve school facilities?
    Visit the Use of Facilities section of the website for information on using and reserving school facilities.
  22. question Where can I find information on Harford County Public Schools’ energy management and environmental stewardship?
    Visit www.hcps.org/help to find the latest information on the Harford Environmental Leadership Program including green initiatives, energy management and other environmental news. For specific questions, contact the Office of Resource and Energy Conservation at help@hcps.org.