Instructional Technology Newsletters

Superintendent Dr. Sean Bulson Addresses Impact of County Executive Bob Cassilly's Budget Announcement
Superintendent Dr. Sean Bulson addressed the significant impacts of County Executive Bob Cassilly's budget announcement at the Monday, April 15, 2024, Board of Education Business meeting.
In his response, Dr. Bulson underscored the relevance of Maryland's Blueprint for Education and its direct impact on individual school systems.
“The Blueprint funding framework relies on formulas and calculations, yet in HCPS, we firmly believe that our students' education funding should be tailored to meet their diverse needs," Dr. Bulson shared. "Our students are not mere figures in a formula; they represent the future of our county."
While the Blueprint endeavors to offer a framework for equitable education funding statewide, it does not fully address the diverse and nuanced needs of each locality. In Harford County, the community expects reasonable class size, transportation services, safety and security, world languages, athletics/extra-curriculars, clubs, field trips including Harford Glen, small historic schools, employee benefits, and arts and music programs to be provided to our students. Without local support, funds previously utilized to make these programs available to students must be diverted to the requirements set forth in the Blueprint.
Responding to Mr. Cassilly using buzz words like, “flat funding,” and “maintenance of effort to meet state requirements,” Dr. Bulson explained, “we don’t want anyone to interpret these terms as adequate. Some of the funding formulas are dramatically flawed. The reality is that such allocations effectively translate into cuts from services for our students.”
The Superintendent announced proactive measures being taken by HCPS to address funding shortfalls in the FY25 budget. Among these measures, elementary and middle summer school sessions for this summer have been canceled. These adjustments serve as early indicators of the potential impacts on HCPS programs and services without sufficient local funding.
As part of efforts to engage the community and foster understanding about the FY25 budget, Dr. Bulson encouraged participation in upcoming budget information sessions. These sessions, scheduled for April 17, 2024, at Edgewood High School and April 22, 2024, at Aberdeen High School, both running from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., will provide further insights into the budgetary challenges facing HCPS.
For more information about the FY25 budget and upcoming sessions, please visit hcps.org/budget. To view the entire presentation, visit hcps.org/boe/livestream to access the April 15, 2024, Board of Education Business meeting video archive.

The following Communication will be sent to all contacts TONIGHT, Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. via phone call, email, text and push alert

In April, Dr. Sean Bulson is hosting two Superintendent’s Community Budget Sessions. The first will be at Edgewood High School on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. The second will be at Aberdeen High School on Monday, April 22, 2024. Both sessions will run from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Come and listen as Dr. Bulson shares his comments on the Harford County Public Schools Proposed FY25 budget and provide your feedback on the FY25 budget.
No pre-registration is required to attend this event.

For more information regarding the proposed Harford County Public School’s FY25 budget, go to hcps.org/budget. If you have questions prior to or after the sessions, email budget@hcps.org.

The following will be sent to all high school contacts via phone and email at 5:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Thursday, April 4, 2024:

Good evening. This message is for families at all high schools. We have been made aware of a game primarily played by seniors that may impact all high school students. The game is called “Senior Assassins” and involves students voluntarily participating in a non-school sanctioned game involving “hit” lists, stalking other players, and photos with red “x’s” on players that have been “hit.” Players use water guns in the game. Players are participating off school grounds but have included sites like bus stops. This morning, a community member practiced, “see something, say something,” and called law enforcement when they observed an individual in our community with a gun; it was later found to be a water gun that was designed to look like a real gun, and the individual was a student participating in the game. We thank our law enforcement partners for responding and safely identifying the situation. We want to ensure all high school parents and guardians are aware of the game and the potential repercussions of playing it in the community. The game should not be brought into the schools; If it is, we want to remind you that a weapon of any kind, operational or not, is a violation of school rules. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if students bring water guns, or any weapon, into HCPS. Please take a moment to review this message with your student as we work to keep all students safe as they travel to and from school as well as in their school. Thank you.

The Harford County Health Department (HCHD) is offering FREE Vaccine Clinics for students entering 7th grade in the 2024-2025 school year.

Clinic Information:

1. Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Aberdeen Middle School, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

2. Thursday, May 9, 2024, Harford County Health Department Woodbridge location, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The clinics are run by the HCHD and will offer the required Tdap, MCV, and optional HPV vaccines to students who will enter 7th grade in the 2024-2025 school year.

Each child must have their parent or guardian present to receive one or all of the vaccines. No appointments will be taken; the clinic will be first-come, first-served. The line will be closed when staff can see that the end time is approaching, and staff will need to begin shutting down the clinic, so you are encouraged to arrive early and be prepared for a potential wait.

The flyer is attached with additional information. All Health Center information is available here.

The following communication will be sent to ALL contacts, staff and families, at 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2024, via phone, email, text, HCPS app, and social media:

On Monday, March 18, 2024, the Board of Education of Harford County voted to approve changes to a policy that refers to the use of portable communication devices, including cell phones and wearable electronic devices, like smart watches. You can view the entire Board Business meeting or skip to item G, to view the specific conversation around the policy, here.

The updated policy can be viewed here. You can also navigate to the policy page (with ALL Board policies) by clicking on the Board of Education drop down in the hcps.org menu.

Updates to the Portable Communication Devices Policy will take time to implement across 54 different schools and with more than 5,000 employees and close to 39,000 students. Consequently, the changes to the policy are anticipated to go into effect at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. As details, including enforcement of the policy around electronic devices, are developed, they will be shared with staff, parents and guardians, and students. Please stay tuned!

The following communication will be sent to all contacts Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via email, text message, and app push alert:

The Board of Education of Harford County is seeking applicants for membership on several Citizen Advisory Committees. Membership is open to all Harford County residents, including those who do not have a student in the school system.

Each committee meets regularly and makes recommendations to a HCPS staff coordinator on the aspects of the school system under the committee's purview.

New members are confirmed to the respective committee during a summer Board of Education meeting and will serve a one-, two-, or three-year term.

The committees include Career and Technical Education (CTE), Family Life Education, and Gifted Education. The Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee is accepting interested new members, but no application is needed.

The Parent Advisory, Advocacy and Action Council (PAAAC) does not have any current openings and is not accepting applications at this time.

Interested parties should complete an application available on the Board of Education webpage. Information requested includes the name of the committee you are applying for, contact information, and background information containing membership(s) in the community, social and civil groups, occupation, level of schooling, and why you want to serve on the committee.

The deadline to apply is April 12, 2024.

On Monday, February 26, 2024, a policy titled, “Display of Flags,” was presented at the Board of Education of Harford County business meeting. The meeting, including the policy presentation and Board conversation, is archived here.

Throughout the year, the Board will seek views and comments from the public on a number of issues. The Board is currently seeking public input on this and other policies via their webpage. The “Display of Flags” policy is posted for 30 days of public comment, concluding on March 28, 2024.

This page is updated frequently, and the Board of Education asks that you visit this page throughout the year to provide your input on presented policies.

At the Monday, February 26, 2024 Board of Education Business Meeting, edits to the 2024-2025 HCPS School Calendar were presented and consequently voted on by the Board of Education.

The updated 2024-2025 calendar is attached and can be viewed on the calendar page of hcps.org. The first and last day have not changed. What has been updated is quarter end dates, and prekindergarten start and end dates. Two early dismissal dates have also been updated; an early dismissal previously scheduled in May has been rescheduled in December and an early dismissal on December 20, 2024, has been updated to reflect an early dismissal for students and staff.

The calendar presentation and Board discussion from last night can be seen here and in the Board of Education meeting archive.

The following message will be sent to all contacts in our Mass Notification system on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via phone, email, text message, and app push alert:

Harford County Public Schools kindergarten registration, and applications for kindergarten early entrance, and advanced placement to first grade, will be available Friday, March 1, 2024. Kindergarten registration can be completed online on March 1, 2024. Applications for kindergarten early entrance and advanced placement to first grade will be available to print online and submit a hard copy. To submit your application, follow the directions on the cover sheet of the printed application. Printed applications will be available at each elementary school on March 1, 2024.

*Prekindergarten applications will be available May 3, 2024. Details will be released as soon as possible.

Please note, due to state law, prekindergarten and kindergarten instruction are not permitted to be virtual. This means prekindergarten and kindergarten registration is not available at Swan Creek School.

Please share this information in your community as we try to ensure families who may not be connected to HCPS are aware that applications and registrations will be available March 1, 2024.

Additional registration information is available here.

The following is being shared via phone, email, text message, HCPS app notification on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.:

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approved Harford County Public Schools’ 2023-2024 School Year Virtual Day Instruction Plan, which requested the use of three (3) asynchronous virtual instruction days in the event of inclement weather.

This means the next inclement weather day(s) will utilize asynchronous virtual learning day(s). When an inclement weather day is determined, we will confirm the day will be asynchronous virtual instruction in all communications. Students and families may visit the inclement weather page on hcps.org for more information about virtual learning days, including FAQs, resources for Canvas, and more. This page will be updated regularly with additional information; please check it often during this season.

The following communication is being sent to all contacts on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 5 p.m. via email, phone call, text message and app push alert.

The Board of Education of Harford County will continue to hold Engage for Education listening sessions in the new year. This is an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts on the future of education in Harford County with members of the Board of Education.

Remaining sessions are as follows:
1. Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at North Harford High School
2. Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at Edgewood High School
3. Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Havre de Grace High School
4. Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Bel Air High School

All sessions run from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. No pre-registration is required to attend or speak.

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.

The following communication is being sent to all contacts in our Mass Notification System via email, phone call, text message and app push alert on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.:

The Board voted to approve the 2024-2025 Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) school year calendar at the December 18, 2023, Board of Education of Harford County business meeting.

The calendar can be viewed on the calendar page of hcps.org. As approved by the Board of Education, the first day of school for students will be September 3, 2024. The last day of school, if all 6 inclement weather days are utilized, will be Monday, June 23, 2025. If no inclement weather days are needed, the last day of school for the 2024-2025 HCPS school year will be Thursday, June 12, 2025.

The calendar presentation and Board discussion from last night can be seen here, in the Board of Education meeting archive.

The following communication is being sent to parents of 8th grade student at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

For the 2024-2025 school year, 8th grade students who are applying to the Teacher Academy of Maryland Magnet may be offered seats in either Edgewood High School or North Harford High School via an established lottery process.

Students currently enrolled in TAM at Harford Technical High School will continue the program at Harford Technical high School through their graduation.

The following is being sent to all parents/guardians via EMAIL ONLY at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2023:

If your student is a Medicaid member, their Free and Reduced-Price Meals status could be affected if you don't renew your membership when you receive your notice. If your student is a Medicaid member, be sure to follow up when Maryland Health Connection reaches out. Contact them directly with questions. Click here for their flyer.

Click here for the HCPS Health Center.
Click here to complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals application.

The following message is being sent Thursday, August 10, 2023 to all contacts via email ONLY:

Please be advised that we have been made aware of unauthorized web sites and smart phone apps that accept Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) student credentials, potentially stealing your students’ credentials and or misusing them.

Parents and guardians should check their student's personal devices for apps and web site access to prevent them from unknowingly giving access to their personal information. We use security measures on HCPS devices to ensure this doesn’t happen, but we can’t protect your personal devices. Only you can ensure your student isn’t using an app or visiting a site that may be collecting information in the background!

All HCPS approved apps and platforms are listed on hcps.org; if we haven’t endorsed it, don’t use it. If you want to ask about a specific app/platform, contact User.Support@hcps.org.

The following communication was sent to families on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 5 p.m.:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

During the most recent legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly moved the date of the primary election for the State of Maryland. As a result, the primary elections will be held on May 14, 2023, instead of April 23, 2024.

The Board of Education of Harford County (BOE) originally approved the 2023-2024 school year calendar at the Board of Education Business Meeting on December 19, 2022. As a result of the election date change, the BOE voted on Monday, May 22, 2023, to make the following adjustment to the 2023-2024 school year calendar:

HCPS schools and offices will be open on April 23, 2024, and schools and offices will be closed on May 14, 2024, to allow our schools to to function as polling places for the election.

Calendar information can be found here.

Thank you,
Jillian Lader
Manager of Communications
Harford County Public Schools