Harford County Public Schools

The following message was sent to all 5th grade families on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. via email and text message:

This year, your student will participate in the Fifth-Grade Residential Outdoor Education Program at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center. This program is an integral part of their Environmental Stewardship Unit in Science.

Before your child's experience, you are invited to attend an Open House at Harford Glen. These sessions are self-guided and last approximately 30 minutes. Harford Glen staff will be available to answer questions.

The first Open House is on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Click here to see a full listing of all open house dates and times.

If Harford County Public Schools closes schools for any of the scheduled dates, the Open House will be canceled.

For more information about Harford Glen, click here.

The following was included in the Wednesday Wire sent to families via email on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

All HCPS Schools and offices are closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, in observance of Labor Day. Click here for all 2026-2027 calendar information.

Applications are now open for the 2027 Maryland General Assembly Page Program. Since 1970, this program has given high school seniors the chance to serve alongside Maryland legislators during the annual legislative session in Annapolis. Each year, only 105 Pages and 36 alternates are selected statewide, offering students a firsthand look at the legislative process and state government in action.

This opportunity is a strong fit for seniors with leadership experience, civic engagement, responsibility, strong communication skills, or an interest in government and public service.

Key Details:

Application deadline: October 5, 2026
Students who advance in the HCPS selection process will be invited to an in-person interview on October 19, 2026, at C. Milton Wright High School. Only students available on that date will be considered.
Selected Pages serve two nonconsecutive weeks during the legislative session, January through April.
Pages support the daily operations and schedule of the legislative chamber.
Pages receive a $55 per day stipend. Housing is available for students who live outside Anne Arundel County.
The Maryland General Assembly will notify HCPS of selected students in late November. Selected Pages and their families will be recognized at a Student Page Breakfast in early December.

Watch the informational video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPUSI2wI4yw&t=1s
Apply here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/9wCrLghVj0

Questions may be directed to Dr. Erin Lange, Supervisor of Social Studies, at Erin.Lange@hcps.org or 410-588-5222.

Open Gate technology has been utilized at HCPS athletic events and in select schools over the last year. As shared previously, students in middle and high schools will see it in use at other times during the school day, including during arrival, this school year.

Your student may see Open Gate in use at different events, different times of the day, and at any point in the school year. The use of the Open Gate technology is another layer of safety and security; its use during the school day does not indicate a specific threat or concern. It is a proactive measure to better ensure student safety.

As has been the practice of Harford County Public Schools, if there is a specific threat or concern to a school, that information will be communicated directly with that school community.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PARTICIPATION
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026

SCHOOL CALENDAR PUBLIC INPUT SESSION: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

*The Superintendent and Board will receive public comments related to the topic of
HCPS School Calendar Only.

This meeting will be conducted in person, and public attendance will be permitted as explained below:

DOORS WILL OPEN AT 5:55 PM AND THE SESSION WILL BEGIN AT 6:00 PM
The Superintendent and the Board of Education of Harford County will hold an in person “School Calendar” Public Input Session on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Board Room of the A.A. Roberty Building with the Superintendent, Board Members, staff, and presenters in attendance in-person. Seats will be available on a first-come-first served basis. The session will be streamed live and archived for later viewing on the HCPS Website.

In-Person Public Comment Participation Process
Individuals wishing to speak on the topic of “HCPS School Calendar” may request to do so by sending an email to publiccomment@hcps.org or calling 410-588-5347.
Pre-Registrations must be received by 12:00 PM on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. All fields on the registration form must be completed.

1.First and Last name
2.Local Address
3.Email Address
4.Phone Number
5.Registration forms are limited to one (1) per person.

*Failure to provide complete information as required above will void the request to provide Public Comment.

?"Request to Provide Public Comment" cards will be available for in-person attendees prior to the public input session for sign-up and must be submitted prior to the opening of the session.
Public comment will be conducted in accord with the Board of Education policy Public Participation at Board Open Meetings or Public Hearings and as summarized below:

?Each speaker shall be limited to no more than three (3) minutes. Speakers must state his or her name.

?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. The only topic being discussed at this session is the “HCPS School Calendar.”

?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 speaker may be removed. In addition, public comment is an opportunity for members of the community to address the Superintendent and the Board of Education. Please direct your comments to them 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.
Speakers are reminded that public comments are considered public information and,
as such, are subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.

The following message was sent to all families on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, text message, and push alert:

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! We are excited to see all students in 1st grade through 12th grade on Monday, August 31, 2026. Prekindergarten and Kindergarten students start with a gradual entry. Please click here for more information.

We invite you to explore our Back-to-School checklist on hcps.org. There you will find information on everything from where to find required forms and documents, to when bus routes for the 2026-2027 school year will be available, and everything in between. It is your one-stop-shop for anything you need to know for the 2026-2027 school year.

Don't forget to bookmark your school's website to stay up to date with the latest information. Click here to see a complete list of all HCPS school websites.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to keep up with the latest system-wide news.

Finally, before the school year begins, we hope you will join us at the Back to School Bash on Monday, August 24, 2026, at IBEW Local 24 Union Field at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. Come and meet some of our community partners, play catch on the outfield, meet Dr. Dyann R. Mack, and enjoy an IronBirds baseball game as we kick off the school year together as a community! Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

We hope you have a fantastic 2026-2027 school year!

On June 22, 2026 the Board of education of Harford County Board formally approved and signed the contract for Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) with Dr. Dyann R. Mack, marking a significant milestone for the school system and the community it serves.

During the Board’s meeting, members also presented Dr. Mack with a special proclamation recognizing her historic achievements and deep-rooted connection to Harford County. Dr. Mack is the first graduate of Harford County Public Schools to return as Superintendent, the first graduate of Joppatowne High School to serve in the role, and the first Black Superintendent in HCPS history.

“Dr. Mack’s journey from HCPS student to Superintendent is both inspiring and historic,” said Board of Education President Lauren Paige. “Her leadership reflects a deep understanding of our schools, our students, and our community. We are proud to welcome her into this role and confident in her vision for the future of Harford County Public Schools.”

Dr. Mack’s appointment underscores HCPS’s commitment to fostering leadership from within and celebrating excellence across the district. In accepting the proclamation, Dr. Mack expressed gratitude and a strong commitment to continuing the work of strengthening HCPS for all students.
“It is an incredible honor to serve as Superintendent of the school system that helped shape me,” said Dr. Mack. “I am deeply grateful to the Board for their trust and to this community for its support. Together, we will continue to build on our successes and ensure every student is Ready by Design.”

The Board’s proclamation highlights not only Dr. Mack’s professional accomplishments but also the significance of representation and the powerful message her leadership sends to current and future students across Harford County.

Dr. Mack will begin her tenure July 1, 2026, as Superintendent under the newly signed contract, working in partnership with the Board of Education, HCPS staff, students, families, and the broader community, to advance the district’s mission and goals.

The following message will be shared in the Wednesday Wire on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, with all families:

On April 27, 2026, the Board of Education of Harford County approved updates to the 2026–2027 school calendar to better plan for inclement weather days.

Three days during the school year—March 1, June 1, and April 12, 2027—have been set aside as potential inclement weather makeup days (in that order). These replace the previous plan of adding makeup days to the end of the school year. *If no weather-related school closures occur before these dates, schools and offices will be closed on those days.

This change follows a resolution from the Maryland State Board of Education, which requires school systems to build inclement weather makeup days into the school year rather than placing them at the end. The state also allows up to three additional inclement weather days to be handled through virtual instruction, for a total of six possible makeup days (three in-person and three virtual).

Making these changes allows HCPS to remain eligible to request a calendar waiver from the state, if needed, and ensures the school system is able to consider virtual instruction as an option for inclement weather. As soon as details regarding potential use of virtual instruction for inclement weather become available, the details will be shared with the HCPS community.

As a result of this update, the last day of school for students in kindergarten through grade 11 will be an early dismissal on Thursday, June 17, 2027.

The full, updated 2026–2027 school calendar is available here. En Español.

News Alert for 9/2/2026

Open Gate Technology will be used throughout the School Year