The following communication will go out to all contacts on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, and app push alert:

This is an important calendar reminder. 

HCPS Schools and offices will close three-hours early on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. Please note, half-day PreK does NOT meet on early dismissal dates.   

Schools and Offices are closed Thursday, November 28, 2024, and Friday, November 29, 2024, in observance of Thanksgiving. 

Calendar information for the entire 2024-2025 school year can be found on hcps.org. 

1. Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Edgewood High School 
2. Harford Technical High School 
3. Information Technology Oracle Academy, Havre de Grace High School 
4. Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), Joppatowne High School 
5. Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), Joppatowne High School 
6. Natural Resources and Agricultural Science Magnet Program (NRAS), North Harford High School 
7. Science and Mathematics Academy (SMA), Aberdeen High School 
8. Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM), Edgewood High and North Harford High Schools 

• HCPS is offering the option to purchase a device protection plan.  Please log into your School Cash Online account for each student to find this item available for purchase.  *If you have already purchased the protection plan, you may DISREGARD this message.  The item will no longer be available for purchase in your account.* 

• Charger - $36  

• Chromebook/laptop - $300  

• Dell Precision laptop - $1,400  

• Apple iPad - $399  

The following message will be sent to all contacts via phone, email, text, and app push notification Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.:

Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) is facing a budget shortfall of approximately $60 million, after two years of nearly unchanged funding from the county. This means HCPS is lacking more than $1,500 in funding for each student. County Executive Bob Cassilly released a video on his Facebook page noting his intention to maintain his flat funding approach for the coming fiscal year. Given this financial challenge and our unwavering commitment to serve all students, we invite you to participate in the 2026 HCPS Budget Survey. Your responses will help us navigate the difficult decisions ahead. 

You are invited to watch the HCPS State of the District here. 

The Budget Survey presents scenarios of potential trade-offs HCPS may need to consider in reducing expenses and services. Please review the questions and select the option you would prefer HCPS to pursue. If you are unsure, please choose the best scenario between the two presented or opt to skip to the next question. Your feedback will provide valuable insights for our budget planning and decision-making process. 

The survey will remain open until December 2, 2024, at 11:45 p.m. The data gathered will be shared with work groups, committees, and the Board of Education of Harford County to help shape the budget for the upcoming school year. 

As requested by our community, all participants will need to provide authentication—such as Student IDs, staff and student email addresses—before completing the survey. These details will help ensure the validity and accuracy of the results by preventing duplicate submissions. Please note, Student IDs and email addresses are solely used for validation purposes, responses will remain confidential. 

To participate in the survey, click here. 

1. Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Edgewood High School 

2. Harford Technical High School 

3. Information Technology Oracle Academy, Havre de Grace High School 

4. Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), Joppatowne High School 

5. Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), Joppatowne High School 

6. Natural Resources and Agricultural Science Magnet Program (NRAS), North Harford High School 

7. Science and Mathematics Academy (SMA), Aberdeen High School 

8. Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM), Edgewood High and North Harford High Schools 

Your student will take part in an amazing opportunity at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center. The Fifth Grade Residential Outdoor Education Program is an overnight program and part of your student’s Environmental Stewardship unit. The hands-on learning opportunities at Harford Glen cannot be replicated in the classroom. 

Staff at Harford Glen will host eight Open Houses for you to bring your student, learn about the program and visit the facility. 

Each Open House is approximately 30 minutes and self-guided, allowing you to explore the grounds and facilities on your own. Harford Glen staff will be on hand to answer any questions. 

Open House dates: 
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  
- Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  
- Friday, September 27, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. 
- Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. 
- Friday, November 1, 2024, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 
- Monday, December 21, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. 
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. 
- Friday, March 21, 2025, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. 

If Harford County Public Schools closes schools on any of the above dates, the Open House that day will be canceled. 

For more information about the Harford Glen programs, click here. 

In March, the Board of Education of Harford County, updated the “Portable Communication Device” Board policy. The policy is also in the Parent/Student Handbook that you receive and acknowledge at the beginning of each school year. A FAQ has also been created to help parents and guardians understand the updated policy. Tune in to the latest Real Talk on the policy changes with Mary Beth Stapleton, Manager of Family and Community Partnerships, and Mike O’Brien, Executive Director of Secondary School Instruction and Performance. 

Please note, the policy applies to Portable Communication Devices, Personal Listening Devices, and Wearable Communication Devices. Definitions for each are included in the full policy.  

In Elementary School: 

• Students may bring Portable Communication Devices to School; 

• The device must remain in the student’s backpack and deactivated, unless authorized to do so due to their IEP, 504 Plan, or Nursing Plan. 

• Students may use their Portable Communication Device before and after school and on the bus. 

In Middle School: 

• Students may bring Portable Communication Devices to School; 

• The device must remain stored in their locker and deactivated during the entire school day. 

• Students may use their device before and after school and on the bus. 

In High School: 

• Students may bring Portable Communication Devices to School; 

• The device must not be visible and must remain deactivated during instructional time. 

• Students may use their device before and after school, on the bus, and during lunch. 

*Students in both middle and high school may wear a portable communication device, or smartwatch, but it must be deactivated. In elementary school, wearable devices are only to be worn before and after school, unless specified in an IEP, 504 plan, or Nursing plan. 

This policy was updated by the Board and reflects the concept, “Smart Students, not Smart Devices!” Following the Board’s decision, HCPS staff identified and reviewed resources that note, “it has been proven that students who are on PCD’s, PLD’s, or WCD’s when it is not part of the instructional lesson are not fully engaged in learning,” a concept from Jonathan Haidt’s book, titled, “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.”  

Harford County Public Schools is asking for parent and guardian support as we navigate the changes in the policy. Please ensure your student is prepared and aware of the changes. 

Those interested in reviewing HCPS presentations, public comments, and Board discussions on the policy changes, may do so in the Board meeting archives on hcps.org. Meetings were held on January 22, 2024, and March 18, 2024.  

During the 2024-2025 school year, your student will have the opportunity to experience the Fifth Grade Residential Outdoor Education Program at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center. 

Please save the date to visit and explore Harford Glen prior to your student’s experience. The Open Houses allow you to learn about the program and the property prior to your student participating in the program. 

Open House dates: 
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  
- Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  
- Friday, September 27, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. 
- Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. 
- Friday, November 1, 2024, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 
- Monday, December 21, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. 
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. 
- Friday, March 21, 2025, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.