To access the Lightspeed Parent Portal, parents/guardians must first sign up to receive Lightspeed email notifications. At the bottom of the Sunday email notification is a Log In or Register link. 

In Lightspeed Parent Portal parents may pause their student’s ability to use the web for various amounts of time. While parents can block access to YouTube in the portal, the system does not provide an option to block other websites. HCPSS blocks access to social media and instant messaging services at all school levels and most game websites at middle and high school level.

If you have concerns about the content type that may be accessed on your child's HCPSS-issued device, please contact your student’s school administrator.

Eligible students at the schools below may be provided bus transportation from Zum Services.

Please note! The schools below may be serviced by Zum and another bus contractor. Only buses with a six-digit number receive Zum transportation.

The Ombudsman serves as a neutral party to collaborate with Howard County Department of Education staff and the community. The Ombudsman may advocate for a fair process and fair administration only.

Contact the Ombudsman by calling 410-313-6850 or emailing ombudsman@hcpss.org.

If an initial attempt to resolve the issue is not satisfactory, the next step is to contact the principal or assistant principal. If the concern directly involves the principal, the parent may contact the Director of Schools assigned to their school.

If you have already met with the principal during the informal process, you can include documentation of the principal’s response or denial of their request with the Formal Concern Form. After submission, the form will be sent to the applicable Director of Schools.

If the concern is regarding the school principal, you are encouraged to address concern directly with the principal via the informal process. If you are not willing to, or are not comfortable discussing your concern with the principal, you may indicate that in the Formal Concern Form and it will go directly to the applicable Director of Schools.

The start of an investigation regarding a formal concern begins with a signed form with Part I completed. The timeline for a formal concern begins on the date when the form is received by the school or office to which it has been directed. The formal process has the following time requirements:

It is the prerogative of any stakeholder to contact the Board of Education, Superintendent, or HCPSS leader; however, it is important to direct the concern to the person who is most directly involved with the situation. Not following the formal concern process identified may delay the review and resolution of your concern. 

To ensure proper processes are adhered to and to ensure timely resolution, parents/guardians are encouraged to follow the HCPSS formal concern process, as outlined online.