Harford County Public Schools

The following message will be sent to all families with 8^th grade students via email, phone call and text message at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 2024:

Harford County Public Schools invites you to attend one of our Magnet and Technical Programs Information Nights. These meetings are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 throughout September and October. Each presentation is identical, you do not need to attend multiple events.
The dates and locations of the information nights are:
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Aberdeen High School
- Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at Harford Technical High School
- Monday, September 30, 2024, at Joppatowne High School
- Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at Havre de Grace High School
- Monday, October 7, 2024, at North Harford High School
- Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at Edgewood High School
The programs being discussed include:

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

Harford Technical High School

Information Technology Oracle Academy, Havre de Grace High School

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

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

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

Science and Mathematics Academy (SMA), Aberdeen High School

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

For more information on the Harford County Public Schools Magnet and Technical Programs, click here.

The following communication will be sent to parents of all 5th grade students on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, and text message.

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.

The following message will be sent to all contacts via email, phone call, text message, and app push alert at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2024:

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.

The following communication will be sent to all contacts on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, text message and app push alert.

Welcome to the 2024-2025 HCPS School Year! We are excited to see most of you September 3. 2024, for the first day of school. Prekindergarten students will join us on September 5, 2024. We encourage parents and guardians to review Back to School information available on hcps.org. Please read the HCPS 2024-2025 Handbook/Calendar before the school year starts. Stay up to date on Board of Education of Harford County meetings, discussions, decisions on the Board page of hcps.org. There you can also see all HCPS Board policies, including topics like portable device use, attendance, and dress codes.

In addition to providing links to required, and optional forms, the Back-to-School webpage includes the attached checklist and provides links to important systemwide information like the calendar and permission forms. Payment options like MySchoolBucks for school meals, GoFan for athletic event tickets, and School Cash Online for all other payments can be found on hcps.org. Bus stops and routes are scheduled to be released August 19, 2024, and will be available here.

If you haven’t completed the application to determine eligibility for free and reduced-cost meals, you can find the link on the Back-to-School webpage. A copy of the application is also attached and is required to qualify for free and reduced-cost meals. *Eligible students may also be eligible for a free device protection plan, which covers damage to devices and chargers, and free credit bearing courses at Harford Community College.* In addition, we are still required by law to notify parents and guardians when your child's food balance is getting low in MySchoolBucks. You can set your own notification directly in MySchoolBucks to be notified if your child's account balance for the cafeteria is getting low to avoid receiving communications from HCPS when your account reaches $2.60 or is below $0. This, and other important information from the Food and Nutrition office can be found throughout the school year via the "Menus" button on hcps.org.

We hope you’ll follow HCPS on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube) for updates throughout the year. Your school may have social media accounts, too, and we encourage you to follow them as well. After you review the Back-to-School information on hcps.org, you can email, AskHCPS@hcps.org with any questions. This email account is available for questions throughout the school year. Don’t forget to download the HCPS app to receive important alerts directly to your phone throughout the school year.

Details on school supply lists, and events to welcome students to each school will come from your home school so be sure to tune into school communications, too. We encourage you to sign up for a Canvas Parent profile so you can stay up to date on what is happening in your student’s classroom. Information on how to sign up for a Canvas Parent Profile can be found here.

We’ll share systemwide information on HCPS social media channels and send important information via our mass communications system phone, text, app push notification and email, throughout the school year. If you don’t want to receive future communications via any of these formats, at the end of the communication, there is an “opt-out.” However, in case of an emergency, be aware that mode of communication won’t be utilized to contact you, per your changed settings.

We look forward to partnering with you and your student for a successful school year!

The Daily Record has named Dr. Sean Bulson, Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools to its 2024 listing of Influential Marylanders!

Dr. Bulson is joined by fifty-six Influential Marylanders who were selected by the editors of The Daily Record for their significant contributions to their respective fields and for their leadership in Maryland in the following areas: civic leadership, communications, education, finance, freestyle, general business, health care, law, philanthropy, real estate and technology.

The education category includes:
Dr. Sean W. Bulson, Harford County Public Schools
Dr. Mark R. Ginsberg, Towson University
***Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis, Community College of Baltimore County
Dr. Darryll Pines, University of Maryland, College Park
Dr. Carey M. Wright, Maryland Department of Education
***Circle of Influence Honoree

The Daily Record launched Influential Marylanders in 2007 to recognize those who have made significant impacts in their field and continue to be leaders in Maryland.

“The 2024 Influential Marylanders are accomplished leaders who demonstrate vision and innovation. What they focus their attention on really matters; what they say is important; and what they do makes a difference for many of us in Maryland and beyond,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/The Daily Record. “Influential Marylanders are mentors to other leaders, and they challenge us to realize and attain our own hopes and dreams. We are honored to recognize their many accomplishments.”

Influential Marylanders will be honored at a celebration Sept. 18 starting at 4:30 p.m. at The Grand Lodge, 304 International Circle in Cockeysville.

Winners will be profiled in a special magazine that will be inserted into the Sept. 19 issue of The Daily Record and will be available online at TheDailyRecord.com.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bulson on this honor!

We are thrilled to announce that David Jones, of Havre de Grace High School, has been recognized as the 2024 High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year and Stacey Sewell, of Forest Hill Elementary School, has been recognized as the 2024 Elementary School Physical Education Teachers of the Year by SHAPE Maryland!

Mr. Jones and Ms. Sewell will be formally recognized at the SHAPE Maryland Awards Ceremony on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel in Towson.

SHAPE Maryland’s mission is to enhance and promote the health and wellness of all the citizens of Maryland by providing advocacy, resources, and professional learning opportunities for current and future PreK-12 health and physical educators. We are so proud to have TWO amazing Harford County Public Schools educators recognized for their commitment to the health and wellness of our students!

The following message will be sent from Board President Poynton via email and app push notification to all contacts at 12:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, 2024:

Please take a moment to listen to this brief update on the 2024-2025 HCPS Operating and Capital budgets. I’ve included the text below for your reference.

One of the Board’s primary responsibilities is to create and pass a budget that meets the needs of our school system and is financially responsible. I am delighted to announce that the Board of Education unanimously passed the 2024-2025 operating and capital budgets.

This year, the Board faced unique challenges such as inflationary pressures on operations and capital projects, the loss of over $10 million in federal grants, and changing demographics that require additional funding to support our English language learners and special education. Additionally, we must meet the requirements set forth in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. All of this had to occur while managing a modest increase in funding due to our economic conditions in Harford County.

Despite these challenges, the Board of Education has successfully crafted and passed a budget that meets the needs of our school system with the Board's 2025 priorities in mind. Our priorities are:

Academic achievement with a focus on math, reading, and language arts;
Improve school environment with an emphasis on attendance and safety;
Increasing community and parental and guardian trust through partnerships and transparency.

As a result, the total unrestricted operating budget for the upcoming school year is $653.3 million, and the total capital budget is $58.1 million.

Our operating budget was carefully crafted to streamline operations and reduce inefficiencies by $10.6 million. In doing so, we have ensured that any structural or operational reductions do not impact the number of educators or average class size. To close the gap between our funding needs and the available funding, we voted to assign $30.2 million from our fund balance and use the additional $6.5 million provided by local government to reconcile our 2024-2025 operating budget. It’s important to note that this leaves the school system with a fund balance of approximately $25 million. This balance is necessary to handle any unexpected emergencies or one-time needs in the future.

Most importantly, through negotiations with bargaining units, this budget not only retains educator positions but also provides HCPS staff with a cost-of-living increase and a step increase to reward their hard work and dedication. Moreover, we did not have to make any cuts to our beloved programs such as sports, music and art, safety and security, magnet schools, languages, or extracurricular activities. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of the Board of Education, the administration, and staff at HCPS, and to all of our stakeholders at local and state government for their hard work and collaboration throughout this budget cycle. With this budget in place, we are well-positioned to enter the school year with the resources needed to ensure we continue to deliver top-quality education to our beloved students, who represent our future.

I wish everyone a happy and restful summer and look forward to seeing you in September.

Please visit the HCPS Budget page on our website for details on the budget process.

The following message will be sent to families of rising 5th grade students on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. via email.

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.

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!

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 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.

News Alert for 7/10/2024

TWO HCPS Teachers Recognized as SHAPE Maryland Physical Education Teachers of the Year!