Updated HCPS Policies: Portable Devices and Backpacks
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:
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:
For more details and exceptions, please review the policy in its entirety via the attached document or on our website.
What Families Should Do
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
7/31/2025 5:00 PM
End of Summer Fest
The following communication was sent to all contacts Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. via email, text message, and app push alert:
Harford County Public Schools is again partnering with the Aberdeen IronBirds for the End of Summer Fest at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
Gates open at 6:00 p.m., and the game begins at 7:05 p.m. as the IronBirds take on the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Please join us for this family-friendly evening as we wrap up summer and get excited for the new school year.
At the game there will be back-to-school giveaways and community resources. HCPS staff will also be at the game to join in on the fun. Families who arrive in time, will be able to play catch on the field from 6:00 – 6:25 p.m., so make sure your student brings their glove!
Click here to purchase discounted tickets.
We hope to see you at the ballpark!
7/30/2025 5:00 PM
Inclement Weather Response Survey
The following communication went to all HCPS families via phone, email, and text on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. A version of it also went to staff via email at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, with the link to the staff survey.
Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) is seeking input regarding the possible use of virtual instruction during inclement weather in the 2025–2026 school year.
To provide your input, we invite you to complete our Inclement Weather Response Survey. HCPS leadership will use the information received from the survey in planning our inclement weather response.
The survey only takes a few minutes to complete and will remain open through Monday, August 11, 2025, at 11:45 p.m.
Before completing the survey, please note the following requirements by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE):
- Virtual instruction days may only be used after all built-in inclement weather days have been used.
- All virtual instruction days must include at least four (4) hours of synchronous learning, where students and teachers meet online at the same time, following a set schedule, and attendance is taken just like a regular school day.
Families with multiple students should only complete the survey once.
As required with all HCPS-administered surveys, all participants must provide authentication to complete the survey. To authenticate, parents and guardians must use their child’s Student ID number while completing the survey. Survey results and reports will only be included for participants who have provided these verifiable details. The Student ID number is the same as your student’s Food and Nutrition PIN number. You can locate your child’s Student ID number on previously received report cards or progress reports.
If you do not have a Student ID number, email User.Support@hcps.org and provide your full legal name, relationship to the student and the student’s name in the message.
Click here to access the survey
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
7/29/2025 5:00 PM
2025 Summer Food Service Program
The following message was sent to all contacts on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, text message, and app push alert.
Starting Monday, June 23, 2025, Harford County Public Schools will begin offering free meals for all children aged 2 to 18 at several sites throughout the county.
For most locations no registration or ID is required to get a meal, and meals are required to be eaten on site. At Dublin Elementary School, parents or guardians of pre-registered families can pick up seven-day meal kits that include seven breakfasts and seven lunches. Click here to pre-register.
Please note that locations are selected according to USDA eligibility requirements.
Here is a list of locations:
Aberdeen Public Library
Monday – Thursday
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
June 23 – August 21, 2025
Edgewood Public Library
Monday – Thursday
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
June 23 – August 21, 2025
Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary School
Monday – Thursday
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
June 23 – August 14, 2025
Havre de Grace Public Library
Monday – Thursday
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
June 23 – August 21, 2025
Phoenix Rising (Hess Enterprise)
15 Plaza Ct, Suite 15, Aberdeen, MD
Monday – Thursday
Breakfast: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Lunch: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
June 30 – August 21, 2025
Joppa Public Library
Monday – Friday
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
June 23 – August 22, 2025
SuN Meals To-Go
Dublin Elementary School
*Pre-Registration Required
Wednesday
4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
July 2 – August 20, 2025
If you have any questions about the program, or are looking for more information or assistance, please call the Harford County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Office at 410-638-4078.
6/18/2025 5:00 PM
HCPS Moving to New Communications Platform
The following message was sent to all contacts via email, phone call, text and app push alert on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Summer Break is upon us! Before students leave for the summer, we want to share that HCPS will use a new communications system, effective July 1, 2025, for:
Here’s what you can do now to be ready!
Click here to download the new app on your Android or Apple device. You’ll see it’s still a work in progress but will be fully live July 1.
Also on July 1, you will see your school’s new website. Bookmark the new site for easy access to important school information. You will find the links available on our website, hcps.org, on July 1.
Phone calls and emails will come from the same phone number and email address. Text messages will come from “98900” starting July 1. The first text you receive through this new system will include legal wording that may appear as spam. A screen shot of what this message will look like is attached to this email so you can rest assured it is a message from HCPS and not spam.
You will receive a phone call, email, and text message with our first communication in the new system. You will have the opportunity to opt out of any form of communication you do not wish to receive moving forward. Don’t forget- if you opt out, you won’t receive those “snow day” messages!
6/17/2025 5:00 PM
HAC and Naviance Limited Availability!
The following message will be sent to families and staff on Monday, June 16, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. via phone, email, text, and app push notification:
Home Access Center, or HAC, will not be available from July 8 through August 23, 2025, as we prepare information systems for the new school year.
If you need to access to information on HAC, such as report cards, please ensure you do so before July 8, 2025.
HCPS Seniors: if you have not already done so, submit your final transcript request to your school counselor by Wednesday, June 18 as access to Naviance will end on June 30, 2025.
6/16/2025 2:00 PM
Kindergarten Registration Opens March 7, 2025
The following communication was sent to all contacts on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, text message, and push alert.
Harford County Public Schools kindergarten registration, and applications for kindergarten early entrance, and advanced placement to first grade for the 2025-2026 school year, will be available Friday, March 7, 2025.
- Kindergarten registration can be completed online on March 7, 2025.
- Applications for early entrance to kindergarten 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.
- Applications for 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 7, 2025.*
Note: Prekindergarten applications will be available later this spring. Details will be released as soon as possible.
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 these important applications and registrations will be available March 7, 2025.
Additional registration information is available here.
2/5/2025 5:00 PM
HCPS 2025-2026 Color-Coded Calendar Available Online
The 2025-2026 Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) Color-Coded Calendar is available online.
You can view all available calendar information here.
1/10/2025 2:19 PM
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