Harford County Public Schools

The following will be sent to all parents/guardians of 3-12 grade students via phone, email, and text message on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

As we begin the Second Quarter of the 2023-2024 school year, we want to remind families of additional educational support available to students in grades 3-12, if needed.

Harford County Public Schools continues to partner with FEV Tutor to offer online tutoring for all students grades 3-12 in English/Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Sciences.

This FREE tutoring program is offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be used for drop-in homework help or recurring weekly sessions.

For more information about the program, and how to access it, go to our website, hcps.org and click on “academic tutoring” under the students tab.

BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PARTICIPATION
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2023

OPEN SESSION: 5:00 PM – 5:05 PM
This meeting will be conducted virtually with no public attendance due to the brief nature of this meeting
and the logistical issues regarding allowing public attendance in advance of the 6:00 PM meeting.
*The only item the Board will consider during this open meeting is consideration of meeting in a closed session.

CLOSED SESSION: 5:05 PM – 5:45 PM

BUSINESS MEETING: 6:00 PM – ADJOURNMENT
This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid fashion and public attendance will be permitted as explained below:

DOORS WILL OPEN AT 5:50 PM AND THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 6:00 PM

The Board of Education of Harford County will hold a hybrid Business Meeting on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Board Room of the A.A. Roberty Building with Board Members, staff, and presenters in attendance both virtually and in-person. Seats will be available on a first come-first served basis. The meeting will be streamed live and archived for later viewing on the HCPS Website.

Public Comment Participation Call-In and In-Person Process
Individuals or groups recognized by Harford County Public Schools (i.e. – PTAs, unions, and other school system stakeholders) wishing to speak on an agenda item or to comment on an education-related matter not on the agenda may request to do so by sending an email to publiccomment@hcps.org or calling 410-588-5347.

Call-In Registrations must be received by 12:00 PM on Monday, December 4, 2023. All fields on the registration form must be completed.

First and Last name / if speaker is a Group Representative, then please state the name of the Group
Local Address
Email Address
Phone Number
Agenda item or subject your Public Comment pertains to
Will you provide in-person or virtual Public Comment
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.

Registered virtual speakers will receive an email from HCPS with a Call-in Phone # and a Conference ID #.
Registered speakers are required to call-in and enter the conference ID# at 6:00 PM on Monday, December 4, 2023.
Important: If you are unable to take your phone off mute, you may need to dial *6.
If you are admitted from the virtual lobby to the meeting, you will be greeted by an HCPS staff member when it is time to begin your public comment. Expected hold time in the virtual lobby may vary based on number of registered speakers. The maximum wait time in the lobby is 30 minutes; should you be disconnected please call back.
"Request to Appear Before the Board" cards will be available for in-person attendees prior to the Board Meeting for sign-up and must be submitted prior to the opening of the meeting.

The Board has authorized public comment in accord with its 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 and five (5) minutes for individuals representing groups. Speakers must state his or her name, and, if representing a group, must identify the group he or she represents. If a speaker identifies themselves as a representative of a group, then only one (1) representative from the group may provide comment for the identified group.

The Board presiding officer may reduce the amount of time allocated to each speaker if allocating 3 minutes to each speaker will impede the Board’s ability to complete scheduled business.

The Board will receive in-person public comment first and virtual public comment second. The Board expects that 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.

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 Board reserves the right to remove the speaker. In addition, public comment is an opportunity for members of the community to address the Board of Education. Please direct your comments to the Board 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 is being sent to all parents on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. via phone call, email, and text. It will go to all contacts via app push alert.

All Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) students are assigned an iPad, Chromebook, or Dell laptop to use for the 2023-2024 school year. Your student’s device came with a copy of the Student Device Agreement and Protection Plan. As noted in this agreement, in accordance with Board of Education policy, Use of Equipment/Materials by Students, the parent/guardian will be responsible for all damage or loss to an HCPS owned device, whether in or out of school.

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.

This option is available to purchase at a discount for $20 through October 31, 2023, or for $50.00 if purchased November 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024.

*Cost without the device protection plan: Repair - $150 An invoice will be sent to the email on file from StudentDevices@hcps.org.

If you apply and are approved for free and reduced meals, you will automatically receive the device protection plan. The application can be found at https://www.myschoolapps.com/Home/PickDistrict.

The fee for the protection plan is per student for the entire school year and is non-refundable. This plan will cover the cost of two incidents of accidental damage to the device, if submitted for repair with the service tag visible. The plan will not cover any intentional damages.

Replacement costs for a device beyond repair, lost, or stolen are:

Charger - $36
Chromebook/laptop - $300
Dell Precision laptop - $1,400
Apple iPad - $399

Please note: Lost or stolen items ARE NOT covered by the device protection plan.

We encourage you to review and consider the optional device protection plan by the due dates.

Click here to view a short video about OPTIONAL PURCHASES FOR FAMILIES.

Any questions can be directed to studentdevices@hcps.org.

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 communication is being sent to parents and guardians of 5th grade students on August 29, 2023 at 5 p.m.

Dear Parents and Guardians of fifth-grade students,

This school year, 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.

The Open Houses should take approximately 30 minutes and are self-guided, allowing you to explore the grounds, and facilities, on your own. Harford Glen staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Open House dates:
- Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 13, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 19, 2023 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Friday, February 16, 2024 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 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.

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 all Parents and Guardians on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 5 p.m.:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Harford County Public Schools, with support from a generous grant from the Harford County Health Department, is pleased to offer Care Solace to all students, staff, and their family members. Care Solace helps individuals find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their care companion team is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and 365 days per year to quickly connect you to carefully verified providers in your community. They will connect you with providers accepting all medical insurances and even options for those without insurance. This referral process is at no cost to you or the school system.

For more information on Care Solace, how to connect someone, or how to utilize Care Solace yourself, please watch this Parent Academy Real Talk video.

Parents/guardians and staff may access Care Solace services by utilizing the Care Solace website or calling (888) 515-0595. Support is available in 200+ languages. Parents/guardians can also call their child’s school to have administration or student services staff complete a referral on their behalf.

Thank you,

Jillian Lader
Manager of Communications
Harford County Public Schools

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