The Board of Education of Harford County will hold Engage for Education listening sessions throughout the 2025-2026 school year. Listening sessions are an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts on the future of education in Harford County with members of the Board of Education. 

The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the Joppatowne High School auditorium. No pre-registration is required to attend or speak. 

If you are unable to attend on December 3, 2025, additional sessions are scheduled for: 

- Wednesday, February 4, 2025, at Fallston High School 
- Wednesday, February 25, 2025, at the A.A. Roberty Building (This session is for students only) 
- Wednesday, April 22, 2025, at Aberdeen High School 

All the above sessions are scheduled from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 

For more information, or to provide feedback directly to the Board if you are unable to attend one of the sessions, please visit the Engage for Education page on hcps.org.  

• Assistant Principal 
• Custodian 
• Facilities 
• Food Services 
• Nurse 
• Psychologist 
• Pupil Personnel Worker 
• Safety and Security 
• School Counselor 
• Social Worker 
• Support Professional 
• Office of Technology 

1. Apply for Free and Reduced Meals any time. Click here to apply.  
2. Food Pantries: Locations throughout Harford County. Click here to see a list. 
3. Holiday Meals: Thanksgiving meals available at multiple locations. You can see the flier by clicking here.
4. Department of Social Services: Food pantries now available at the Bel Air and Havre de Grace offices starting November 1, 2025. More information can be found by clicking here.  

5. Receive temporary cash assistance from the State of Maryland. Click here for more information.  
6. Get help paying utility bills by utilizing the Office of Home Energy Programs. Click here for more information.  
7. Contact the Salvation Army of Havre de Grace by calling 410-939-3535 or by clicking here. 

8. Care Solace: Free and confidential support available 24/7/365 in 200+ languages. Connect with mental health providers, food assistance, housing help, and more.  

9. United Way 211: Call 211 or click here to connect with local resources. 
10. For more resources offered by the State of Maryland and available to Federal Workers click here.  

Good evening, 

All Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) students were assigned an iPad, Chromebook, or Dell laptop for the 2025–2026 school year. Your student’s device came with a Student Device Agreement and Protection Plan. As stated in the agreement, parents or guardians are responsible for any damage or loss to the school-owned device, whether it happens at school or at home. 

HCPS offers an optional device protection plan to help cover accidental damage. You can purchase it in your School Cash Online account. If you have already purchased the plan, the option to purchase a plan will no longer appear in your School Cash Online account. 

Important Information: 

• Cost: $20 through October 31, 2025, or $50 from November 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. 

• Without the plan: Repairs cost $150. An invoice will be sent from StudentDevices@hcps.org to the email on file for each parent or guardian. 

• Free and Reduced Meals: Students approved for free or reduced meals will automatically receive the protection plan. Click here to apply for free and reduced-price meals. 

The protection plan covers two incidents of accidental damage per school year, if the device is submitted for repair with the service tag visible. It does not cover intentional damage, lost devices, or stolen items. 

Replacement costs for items not covered by the device protection plan: 

• Charger – $36 

• Chromebook/laptop – $300 

• Dell Precision laptop – $1,400 

• Apple iPad – $399 

We encourage you to review the optional plan and decide if it’s right for your family before the due dates. Click here to watch a short video about optional purchases for families. 

Click here for a downloadable copy of the Student Device Agreement and Protection Plan. 

If you have questions, email studentdevices@hcps.org. 

• Official Launch: The program begins on Constitution Day, September 17, with a day of special lessons and activities. 
• Ongoing Learning: Throughout the year, students will explore nine areas of study, including civics, geography, history, art, music, physical education, media literacy, economics, and service learning. 
• Home to School Connection: Families will receive a Patriot Pathways newsletter at the end of each unit, offering ways to continue the conversation and learning at home. 

• While the Patriot Program will be taught during the school day for all students, PTAs may also offer “Beyond the Bell” Patriot activities as an optional, after-school program. They may also choose to sponsor activities or competitions alongside the Patriot Program to encourage students wanting to go above-and-beyond.  
• Schools will have flexibility to create their own celebrations and activities to make the Patriot Program special for their community. 

The following message is being sent via email to all families and staff on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.:

We want to share important updates to two Board of Education of Harford County policies—Portable Communication Devices and Student Backpack Use—approved by the Board of Education on June 9, 2025. These changes go into effect for the upcoming school year and are designed to support a safe and focused learning environment. 

Portable Communication Devices  

Students may bring cell phones, smartwatches, headphones, and other portable communication devices to school; however, their use is limited during the school day:  

• Elementary School: Devices must be deactivated and stored in student bookbags upon arrival.  

• Middle School: Devices must be deactivated and secured in lockers for the duration of the school day.   

• High School: Devices must be kept in the student’s locker and deactivated during class time.  

• Smartwatches and similar wearables may be worn but must remain deactivated at all grade levels.  

For more details and exceptions, please review the policy in its entirety via the attached document or on our website.   

Student Backpack and Bag Policy  

The updated backpack and bag policy outlines expectations for storage to ensure clear pathways, student safety, and emergency preparedness:  

• Bookbags do not need to be clear, but they must be stored appropriately. 

• Elementary School: Bookbags must be placed in designated classrooms or cubby areas upon arrival.  

• Middle and High School: Bookbags must be stored in lockers during the school day.  

• Students may carry a nontransparent bag no larger than 4.5x8.5-inch with them for personal hygiene purposes.  

• Athletic bags and musical instrument cases at all grade levels must be taken directly to the appropriate storage areas upon arrival and not carried throughout the school day.   

For more details and exceptions, please review the policy in its entirety via the attached document or on our website.    

What Families Should Do  

• Review these updated policies with your student before the first day of school.  

• Make sure your child knows where and how to store their devices and bags.    

Both policies will be actively enforced at the start of the school year. 

Thank you for your partnership in helping maintain safe, organized, and distraction-free schools. 

Sincerely, 
Dr. Aaron Poynton 
President, Board of Education of Harford County