Harford County Public Schools

Dear Harford County Public Schools Community,

The Harford County Board of Education has launched a community survey to help guide the search for the next Superintendent of Schools. Your voice is an important part of that process.

We invite staff, families, students, and community members to take a few minutes to complete the survey. Your feedback will help the Board better understand the qualities, priorities, and leadership characteristics that matter most to our community.

The survey is brief and designed to gather input from as many stakeholders as possible.

Please use the appropriate survey link:

Parents/Guardians and Community Members

Students and Staff Members

Please share your perspective by Friday, April 3, 2026.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping shape the future of Harford County Public Schools.

Sincerely,

Board of Education of Harford County

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has approved the Superintendent’s request for a three-day waiver to the state’s 180-day instructional requirement for this school year.

As part of the waiver request, April 17, 2026, and May 22, 2026, will shift from early dismissal days to full instructional days. In recognition of the impact of this change on educators and staff, HCPS will waive the final teacher workday to honor staff time.

With the approved waiver and these adjustments, if no additional inclement weather closures are needed for the remainder of the year, the last day of school for students will be an early dismissal on Thursday, June 18, 2026. TEACHERS LAST DAY will be at the end of the day, Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The last day for PreK is always 2 days prior; this year, the last day for PreK will be Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

The following press release was sent to all media partners on Thursday, March 5, 2026:

HCPS Announces Kindergarten Registration Dates
Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) is pleased to announce important dates for kindergarten registration, early entrance to kindergarten applications and advanced placement to first grade applications for the 2026-2027 school year.
Starting on March 6, 2026, families can complete the kindergarten registration online at hcps.org. Early entrance to kindergarten and advanced placement to first grade applications will also be available online or may be printed at each elementary school beginning that day. Prekindergarten applications will be available starting on May 1, 2026. More details on prekindergarten applications will be shared once they are available.
Families interested in registering for kindergarten are encouraged to visit hcps.org on March 6, 2026, where they can complete the registration process online. Early entrance to kindergarten and advanced placement to first grade applications will be available to view and print online. To apply, follow the directions on the cover sheet of the printed application. Printed copies will also be available at each elementary school beginning on March 6, 2026.
To ensure all families in the community are informed, HCPS encourages the sharing of this information. HCPS remains dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students and is excited to welcome the Class of 2039 in the coming school year.

The following will be sent to families of students with IEPs on March 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. via email and text message.

Good evening,

Parents and guardians of students receiving special education and related services are asked to complete the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services. Surveys were mailed by the Maryland State Department of Education and should be in your mailbox soon if you have not already received it. Please return your completed survey in the provided envelope by June 5, 2026. If you did not receive a copy of the survey in the mail from MSDE, you can complete the survey online at https://www.mdparentsurvey.com. Additional information is in your survey packet and on the website.

Your feedback will be shared with the Maryland State Department of Education and help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in Harford County Public Schools. Your voice can make a real difference for your child and many other students across the State of Maryland.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
The Harford County Public Schools Department of Special Education

The following message is being shared on behalf of Board of Education of Harford County President, Dr. Aaron Poynton.

HCPS Community,

As many of you are aware, it has been reported by various media outlets that our superintendent may have been involved in a reported robbery while on a work-related trip in 2024. This has understandably raised questions regarding the nature of the incident and whether any Harford County Public Schools property or student information may have been compromised.

An internal review confirms no student data was compromised. The Board has now ordered an independent investigation into the entire matter.

The attention and distraction surrounding this reported incident has created challenges for the school system at a time when our focus must remain squarely on students, staff, and the uninterrupted operation of our schools. After careful consideration and a majority vote, the Board has determined that the best course of action at this time is for our superintendent to be placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

In the meantime, Dr. Dyann Mack, our current Deputy Superintendent, will serve as Acting Superintendent to ensure continuity, stability, and effective leadership across the district.

The Board has full confidence in our leadership team and remains committed to transparency, professionalism, and the highest standards of governance. We will continue to focus on what matters most: supporting our students, empowering our educators, and serving the families and community of Harford County.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.

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

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

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

News Alert for 3/24/2026

Share Your Voice: Superintendent Search Survey