The following message was sent to all parents of students in grades 8-12 on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via email and text message.

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Harford Community College is hosting a College and Career Fair at APGFCU Arena.  

This is an opportunity for you and your student to explore options after high school graduation. Representatives from dozens of colleges, industries, and military organizations will be there to tell you about their organizations and answer any questions. 

For more information, click here. 

1. First and Last name / if speaker is a Group Representative, then please state the name of the Group
2. Local Address             
3. Email Address
4. Phone Number
5. Agenda item or subject your Public Comment pertains to
6. Will you provide in-person or virtual Public Comment
7. Registration forms are limited to one (1) per person

• Registered virtual speakers will receive an email from HCPS with a Call-in Phone # and a Conference ID #.
• Registered speakers are required to call-in and enter the conference ID# at 6:00 PM on Monday, September 23, 2024. 
• Important:  If you are unable to take your phone off mute, you may need to dial *6.
• If you are admitted from the virtual lobby to the meeting, you will be greeted by an HCPS staff member when it is time to begin your public comment.  Expected hold time in the virtual lobby may vary based on number of registered speakers.  The maximum wait time in the lobby is 30 minutes; should you be disconnected please call back.
• "Request to Appear Before the Board" cards will be available for in-person attendees prior to the Board Meeting for sign-up and must be submitted prior to the opening of the meeting. 

• Each speaker shall be limited to no more than three (3) minutes for individuals and five (5) minutes for individuals representing groups.  Speakers must state his or her name, and, if representing a group, must identify the group he or she represents.  If a speaker identifies themselves as a representative of a group, then only one (1) representative from the group may provide comment for the identified group.

• The Board presiding officer may reduce the amount of time allocated to each speaker if allocating 3 minutes to each speaker will impede the Board’s ability to complete scheduled business.

• The Board will receive in-person public comment first and virtual public comment second. The Board expects that all comments will be submitted with the decorum and respect appropriate to the conduct of public business.

• Topics such as personnel matters, pending appeals, specific student disciplinary matters or which constitute commercial solicitations are not permitted.

• Disparaging comments, personal attacks, and inflammatory remarks about specific schools, personnel, any person, or group are not permitted. Speakers who engage in these comments will be reminded of the rules and the Board reserves the right to remove the speaker.  In addition, public comment is an opportunity for members of the community to address the Board of Education.  Please direct your comments to the Board and not to other members of the public in the audience.

• All public comments submitted will be part of the records maintained by the Board office.

1. Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Edgewood High School 

2. Harford Technical High School 

3. Information Technology Oracle Academy, Havre de Grace High School 

4. Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), Joppatowne High School 

5. Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), Joppatowne High School 

6. Natural Resources and Agricultural Science Magnet Program (NRAS), North Harford High School 

7. Science and Mathematics Academy (SMA), Aberdeen High School 

8. Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM), Edgewood High and North Harford High Schools 

Your student will take part in an amazing opportunity at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center. The Fifth Grade Residential Outdoor Education Program is an overnight program and part of your student’s Environmental Stewardship unit. The hands-on learning opportunities at Harford Glen cannot be replicated in the classroom. 

Staff at Harford Glen will host eight Open Houses for you to bring your student, learn about the program and visit the facility. 

Each Open House is approximately 30 minutes and self-guided, allowing you to explore the grounds and facilities on your own. Harford Glen staff will be on hand to answer any questions. 

Open House dates: 
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  
- Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  
- Friday, September 27, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. 
- Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. 
- Friday, November 1, 2024, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 
- Monday, December 21, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. 
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. 
- Friday, March 21, 2025, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. 

If Harford County Public Schools closes schools on any of the above dates, the Open House that day will be canceled. 

For more information about the Harford Glen programs, click here. 

In March, the Board of Education of Harford County, updated the “Portable Communication Device” Board policy. The policy is also in the Parent/Student Handbook that you receive and acknowledge at the beginning of each school year. A FAQ has also been created to help parents and guardians understand the updated policy. Tune in to the latest Real Talk on the policy changes with Mary Beth Stapleton, Manager of Family and Community Partnerships, and Mike O’Brien, Executive Director of Secondary School Instruction and Performance. 

Please note, the policy applies to Portable Communication Devices, Personal Listening Devices, and Wearable Communication Devices. Definitions for each are included in the full policy.  

In Elementary School: 

• Students may bring Portable Communication Devices to School; 

• The device must remain in the student’s backpack and deactivated, unless authorized to do so due to their IEP, 504 Plan, or Nursing Plan. 

• Students may use their Portable Communication Device before and after school and on the bus. 

In Middle School: 

• Students may bring Portable Communication Devices to School; 

• The device must remain stored in their locker and deactivated during the entire school day. 

• Students may use their device before and after school and on the bus. 

In High School: 

• Students may bring Portable Communication Devices to School; 

• The device must not be visible and must remain deactivated during instructional time. 

• Students may use their device before and after school, on the bus, and during lunch. 

*Students in both middle and high school may wear a portable communication device, or smartwatch, but it must be deactivated. In elementary school, wearable devices are only to be worn before and after school, unless specified in an IEP, 504 plan, or Nursing plan. 

This policy was updated by the Board and reflects the concept, “Smart Students, not Smart Devices!” Following the Board’s decision, HCPS staff identified and reviewed resources that note, “it has been proven that students who are on PCD’s, PLD’s, or WCD’s when it is not part of the instructional lesson are not fully engaged in learning,” a concept from Jonathan Haidt’s book, titled, “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.”  

Harford County Public Schools is asking for parent and guardian support as we navigate the changes in the policy. Please ensure your student is prepared and aware of the changes. 

Those interested in reviewing HCPS presentations, public comments, and Board discussions on the policy changes, may do so in the Board meeting archives on hcps.org. Meetings were held on January 22, 2024, and March 18, 2024.  

During the 2024-2025 school year, your student will have the opportunity to experience the Fifth Grade Residential Outdoor Education Program at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center. 

Please save the date to visit and explore Harford Glen prior to your student’s experience. The Open Houses allow you to learn about the program and the property prior to your student participating in the program. 

Open House dates: 
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  
- Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  
- Friday, September 27, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. 
- Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. 
- Friday, November 1, 2024, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 
- Monday, December 21, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. 
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. 
- Friday, March 21, 2025, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.