Harford County Public Schools

The following message was sent to all 7^th and 8^th grade families at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, via email, phone call, and text message.

Dear Parents and Guardians of 7th and 8th Grade students,
Harford County Public Schools invites you to attend one of our Magnet and Technical Programs Information Nights. These events begin at 6:00 p.m. Each presentation is identical, so you do not need to attend multiple events.
Dates and locations of presentations:
- Wednesday, September 24, 2025: Magnolia Middle School and Patterson Mill Middle School
- Thursday, September 25, 2025: Havre de Grace Middle School and Southampton Middle School
- Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Aberdeen Middle School and North Harford Middle School
Programs to be discussed include:

Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, at Edgewood High School
Career Programs at Harford Technical High School
Information Technology Oracle Academy, at Havre de Grace High School
Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), at Joppatowne High School
Natural Resources and Agricultural Science (NRAS), at North Harford High School
Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), at Joppatowne High School
Science and Mathematics Academy (SMA), at Aberdeen High School
Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM), at Edgewood High and North Harford High schools

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

The following message was sent to all 12th-grade families at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, via email, phone call, and text message. A version of this will also be put on all High School websites in the news section.

Since 1970, the Maryland Page Program provides an opportunity for high school seniors to serve alongside Maryland legislators during the annual session of the Maryland General Assembly. Each year, only 105 pages and 36 alternates are selected from across the State to represent their schools and counties in Annapolis. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a front-row seat to see government in action and to impact legislation that impacts all of Maryland!
Click here for the Application
Click here to Watch an Overview of the Page Program
Key Details:

Deadline to Apply: Friday, September 26, 2025.
Students selected to advance will be invited to in-person interviews on Monday, October 13, 2025. Interviews will be held at C. Milton Wright High School. Only students available that day will be considered.
Pages serve two nonconsecutive weeks during the January–April legislative session.
Duties include supporting the daily schedule of the chamber.
Each Page receives a $55 per day stipend. Housing is available upon request for students who live outside Anne Arundel County.

In late November, the Maryland General Assembly will notify HCPS of the selected Pages. A celebratory HCPS Student Page Breakfast will occur in early December for students and their families.

The following (full letter attached) is being shared with families who have Kindergarten students in HCPS, on behalf of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE):

KRA Parent Notification Letter_English_updated HCPS.pdf

KRA Parent Notification Letter Spanish updated HCPS.pdf

This fall your student will take the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA). The KRA is an assessment that measures a student's knowledge, skills, and abilities in literacy, mathematics, and social and emotional development. It is given to all kindergarten students enrolled in public schools in Maryland by October 10th each year. The purpose of the KRA is to provide teachers and caregivers with information about what students know and can do, as well as to identify areas where they might need additional support. The assessment has three components:

• Star Early Literacy - 10-minute computer adaptive assessment of early literacy skills
• Star Math – 15-minute computer adaptive assessment of math skills
• SAEBRS (Social Academic Emotional Behavior Risk Screen) – 19-question survey completed based on
teacher observation

Most students will take the literacy and mathematics components of the KRA on a computer or tablet. The test will be read out loud to students who will use a mouse or touchscreen to select answers. Paper tests, ASL interpretation, and other accommodations are available for students who need them. Teachers will complete the social and emotional component of the assessment after spending the first few weeks of school getting to know students and completing observations.

Caregivers will receive information about how their student performed after the assessment has been administered. The results provide information about a student's mastery of the content and skills that will support their success in kindergarten. Performance on the KRA does not prevent a child from entering or remaining in kindergarten. The KRA results are only one piece of data, and scores should be understood in the context of other information, including feedback from a student’s teacher.

If you have questions about the KRA please speak with your student’s teacher.

Sincerely,
Erika McCrea
Executive Director of State Assessments

Parents and guardians: The Portable Communication Device Policy was updated in June 2025. If your school provides a student planner, it may have gone to print as early as April- before the policy was updated. This means your student planner may have an outdated version of the Portable Communication Device Policy. We apologize for any inconvenience and ask that you utilize the most up to date policy that is available here. This is the policy we will adhere to this school year.

The following message was sent to all contacts on Tuesday, August 27, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. via email, text message and push alert.

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! Click here to listen in as Superintendent Dr. Sean Bulson shares his excitement for the year ahead and outlines key district priorities, including expanded career programs, enhanced mentoring opportunities, and a focus on student voice and engagement.

Click here as the Board of Education President, Dr. Aaron Poynton, Vice President, Lauren Paige and Student Member, Trae McVicker welcome students. and discuss their three main priorities: school safety, academic achievement, and stronger community partnerships.

We hope you have a fantastic 2025-2026 school year!

The following communicaiton was sent to parents and guardians of all students in grades 10 and 11 via email, phone call, and text message on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

The registration period for the PSAT opens on August 27, 2025, and runs through September 17, 2025.

The PSAT is an optional test administered by the College Board and is designed to give students opportunities to prepare for the SAT, a college admissions test. It also provides schools with valuable information about your student’s potential for success in Advanced Placement (AP) coursework.

During the 2025-2026 school year, the PSAT will be administered during the school day in October.

There is a $20.00 registration fee. Students who are eligible for free or reduced meals may select a waiver during registration to take the PSAT at no cost.

Your school will provide information about specific dates the test will be offered and how to register for this exam. After receiving that information, please reach out to the school test coordinator or counseling office if you have any questions.

The following is being sent via email to all HCPS contacts:

We want to make you aware that the pier at Harford Glen is closed for the foreseeable future following an incident that caused damage to portions of the structure.

As many community members enjoy visiting the Harford Glen grounds during the summer, we are sharing this message to ask for your cooperation in avoiding use of the pier until it has been assessed and deemed safe for public access once again.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe environment for all.

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

The 2025-2026 Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) Color-Coded Calendar is available online.

You can view all available calendar information here.

News Alert for 9/10/2025

Magnet Programs Information Night