HCPS Board of Education Public Comment Request Form

The following information was sent to parents, guardians, and staff on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 via phone, email, and text message

As we enter inclement weather season, a few reminders for returning families, and important info for new families.

HCPS staff evaluate weather conditions daily. When HCPS operates, approximately 5,000 staff members and approximately 40,000 students are on Harford County roads. This can be via a personal vehicle, riding a bus, or walking to school. To ensure the safety of staff and students, HCPS has several options to adjust operating schedules in the case of inclement weather.

DELAYS:

A 1-hour delay

A 2-hour delay

A 3-hour delay *NEW* THIS YEAR

CLOSURES can be determined:

The night before;

The morning of by 5:15 A.M.;

By 5:45 A.M. if a 1-hour delay was first implemented;

By 6:45 A.M. if a 2-hour delay was first implemented;

By 7:45 A.M. if a 3-hour delay was first implemented

Please note: Closures need to be made up, and HCPS will utilize inclement weather days that are built into the end of the school year (blue outline on the color-coded version of the calendar).

1-, 2- and 3-hour delays do not need to be made up; when schools are open, it counts towards the state mandated 180-day school year.

With a delay, take your students' normal schedule, and add the delay time to adjust your schedule. For example, if you normally arrive at the bus stop at 6:30 a.m., with a 1-hour delay, arrive at 7:30 a.m. On a 2-hour delay, arrive at the bus stop at 8:30 a.m. and on a 3-hour delay, arrive at the bus stop at 9:30 a.m.

Early Learner and Learning Together Programs:

1-hour delay - Early Learners and Learning Together will also delay one hour
2-hour delay - NO AM Early Learners and Learning Together; PM WILL meet.
3-hour delay - NO Early Learners and Learning Together.

When schools are delayed, every effort will be made to make a reassessment by 5:45 a.m. for a 1 Hour Delay, by 6:45 a.m. for a 2 Hour Delay, and by 7:45 a.m. for a 3 Hour Delay. Communication will ONLY be sent if there is another change to the operating schedule.

The decision to dismiss early for inclement weather will be made as close to 9:30 a.m. as possible for any variation of time for an early dismissal, whether 1-, 2-, or 3-hours early.

Where will this information be posted?

As soon as the Communications Office is made aware of operational changes due to inclement weather, written messages will be posted, followed by direct messages. Please note: if you download the HCPS app, you will get the push notification FASTER than the phone call! Also, closures and delays that are provided the night before, or morning of, are not sent to emergency contacts. We WILL utilize emergency contacts, if students are at school and sent home early to ensure someone is aware that they will arrive home before their normal dismissal time.

Want to download the HCPS app?

Click here if you have an Android device

Click here if you have an Apple device

The following message will be sent to families of students in 7^th and 8^th grade on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, and text message:

HCPS is proud to announce information sessions and application process for the Early College at Swan Creek School (SCS). The Early College at SCS is a virtual HCPS magnet program that blends high school and college coursework online in a supportive and challenging learning environment. Through a partnership with Harford Community College (HCC), students can earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time.
Information Session:

December 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Bel Air High School

Students choose one of four pathways:

Associate of Science in Psychology
Associate of Arts in General Studies with a certificate in Accounting, Business Administration, or Data Science

Students complete coursework online:

HCPS classes are synchronous, taught live by HCPS teachers
HCC classes are asynchronous, allowing flexible scheduling

All college tuition, books, and fees are free for magnet students.

Early College at SCS is separate from traditional dual enrollment programs. *Students will be required to report to Swan Creek School for all required state tests.
Additional information, including the application, is available here. If you are unable to attend the info session December 10, stay tuned for a future Parent Academy virtual event with information about the program.

The following message was sent to all contacts on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, text message and push alert. A version of it will also be posted on social media and school websites under the news feed section.

The window is now open to nominate your favorite Harford County Public Schools employee, from this year or years past, for the 2026 Celebration of Excellence in Education (CEE)!
As we have for the past several years, we will honor employees from throughout Harford County Public Schools who make a difference in the lives of our students.

In addition to naming the 2026 Harford County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, we will honor employees from the following categories:

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

If you want to nominate someone for one of the above categories, visit hcps.org and look for the Celebration of Excellence in Education banner on the homepage. Or you can click here.
We are also accepting nominations for Bus Driver and Bus Attendant of the Year. Nominations for those positions are open until December 1, 2025. Click here to nominate your favorite Transportation employee!
If you are a local business owner or community member and are interested in helping us show our appreciation to the finalists but supporting this year’s program, please reach out to joyce.jablecki@hcps.org for more information.

The following communication was sent to all contacts on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, text message, app push alert, social media and school website:

During the federal government shutdown, we want you to know that Harford County Public Schools and our community partners are here to support you.
Below are resources available to help you and your family:
Food Assistance:

Apply for Free and Reduced Meals any time. Click here to apply.
Food Pantries: Locations throughout Harford County. Click here to see a list.
Holiday Meals: Thanksgiving meals available at multiple locations. You can see the flier by clicking here.
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.

Financial Assistance:

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

Mental Health & Social Services:

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

General Support:

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

These resources exist to support our community members when they need it most.

The following message was sent to select families who have not yet purchased a Device Protection Plan, on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call and text:

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.

The following message was sent to parents/guardians of students in Grades 1-9 on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. via email:

Harford County Public Schools is continuing to use the i-Ready Diagnostic assessments for reading and math. This assessment helps determine your child’s strengths and provides data for teachers that helps them better support your child.

The i-Ready Diagnostic is a computer-adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions based on student responses. Each question a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly more difficult questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier questions.

With i-Ready Diagnostic comes a feature called Family Center. If your child was tested during the fall window, their score report is now available. It is important to note that your child will need to log into their HCPS device for you to view their reports. Detailed instructions on how to access the Family Center once your child logs into their HCPS device are attached to this email, or you can click here. Spanish translated instructions can be found in the Resources for Parents page on hcps.org . Further information about these assessments can be viewed here. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school.

The winter testing window will begin on January 5, 2026, and run through February 6, 2026. Testing dates may vary, as each school will schedule specific testing dates within the county window.

The following communication was sent to all contacts, Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. via email, and text message.

The proposed Harford County Public Schools 2026–2027 school year calendar was presented to the Board of Education of Harford County at the September 22, 2025, Board Business Meeting. Click here to watch the presentation.
The proposed calendar is now posted for 60 days of public comment. Please take a moment to review the proposed calendar and share your feedback before the Board of Education of Harford County holds a final vote on December 15, 2025.
Click here to review the draft calendar and provide your comments.

The following communication was sent to all elementary school families on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. via email and text message:

As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, we are excited to share that the HCPS Patriot Program will be part of the instructional day in all elementary schools across Harford County Public Schools.
The Patriot Program seeks to foster civic-minded students with knowledge of the rich history of the United States, an appreciation for the democratic values that are the foundation of our society, and an understanding of the ways they can responsibly participate in and contribute to their communities. Through engaging lessons and activities, students in Pre-K through Grade 5 will explore important values such as pride, responsibility, and respect.
Program Highlights:

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.

Additional Opportunities:

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.

We are proud to expand this program to every elementary school. Thank you for your support as we launch this exciting new opportunity for our youngest learners!

Parents and guardians: The Portable Communication Device Policy was updated in June 2025. If your school provides a student planner, it may have gone to print as early as April- before the policy was updated. This means your student planner may have an outdated version of the Portable Communication Device Policy. We apologize for any inconvenience and ask that you utilize the most up to date policy that is available here. This is the policy we will adhere to this school year.

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