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

• December 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Bel Air High School 

• Associate of Science in Psychology 
• Associate of Arts in General Studies with a certificate in Accounting, Business Administration, or Data Science 

• HCPS classes are synchronous, taught live by HCPS teachers 
• HCC classes are asynchronous, allowing flexible scheduling 

• Assistant Principal 
• Custodian 
• Facilities 
• Food Services 
• Nurse 
• Psychologist 
• Pupil Personnel Worker 
• Safety and Security 
• School Counselor 
• Social Worker 
• Support Professional 
• Office of Technology 

1. Apply for Free and Reduced Meals any time. Click here to apply.  
2. Food Pantries: Locations throughout Harford County. Click here to see a list. 
3. Holiday Meals: Thanksgiving meals available at multiple locations. You can see the flier by clicking here.
4. Department of Social Services: Food pantries now available at the Bel Air and Havre de Grace offices starting November 1, 2025. More information can be found by clicking here.  

5. Receive temporary cash assistance from the State of Maryland. Click here for more information.  
6. Get help paying utility bills by utilizing the Office of Home Energy Programs. Click here for more information.  
7. Contact the Salvation Army of Havre de Grace by calling 410-939-3535 or by clicking here. 

8. Care Solace: Free and confidential support available 24/7/365 in 200+ languages. Connect with mental health providers, food assistance, housing help, and more.  

9. United Way 211: Call 211 or click here to connect with local resources. 
10. For more resources offered by the State of Maryland and available to Federal Workers click here.  

Good evening, 

All Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) students were assigned an iPad, Chromebook, or Dell laptop for the 2025–2026 school year. Your student’s device came with a Student Device Agreement and Protection Plan. As stated in the agreement, parents or guardians are responsible for any damage or loss to the school-owned device, whether it happens at school or at home. 

HCPS offers an optional device protection plan to help cover accidental damage. You can purchase it in your School Cash Online account. If you have already purchased the plan, the option to purchase a plan will no longer appear in your School Cash Online account. 

Important Information: 

• Cost: $20 through October 31, 2025, or $50 from November 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. 

• Without the plan: Repairs cost $150. An invoice will be sent from StudentDevices@hcps.org to the email on file for each parent or guardian. 

• Free and Reduced Meals: Students approved for free or reduced meals will automatically receive the protection plan. Click here to apply for free and reduced-price meals. 

The protection plan covers two incidents of accidental damage per school year, if the device is submitted for repair with the service tag visible. It does not cover intentional damage, lost devices, or stolen items. 

Replacement costs for items not covered by the device protection plan: 

• Charger – $36 

• Chromebook/laptop – $300 

• Dell Precision laptop – $1,400 

• Apple iPad – $399 

We encourage you to review the optional plan and decide if it’s right for your family before the due dates. Click here to watch a short video about optional purchases for families. 

Click here for a downloadable copy of the Student Device Agreement and Protection Plan. 

If you have questions, email studentdevices@hcps.org. 

• Official Launch: The program begins on Constitution Day, September 17, with a day of special lessons and activities. 
• Ongoing Learning: Throughout the year, students will explore nine areas of study, including civics, geography, history, art, music, physical education, media literacy, economics, and service learning. 
• Home to School Connection: Families will receive a Patriot Pathways newsletter at the end of each unit, offering ways to continue the conversation and learning at home. 

• While the Patriot Program will be taught during the school day for all students, PTAs may also offer “Beyond the Bell” Patriot activities as an optional, after-school program. They may also choose to sponsor activities or competitions alongside the Patriot Program to encourage students wanting to go above-and-beyond.  
• Schools will have flexibility to create their own celebrations and activities to make the Patriot Program special for their community. 

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