For the 2021-2022 school year, HCPSS will return to pre-COVID weather protocols. These include school closings, delays and early dismissals when necessary due to severe weather, and apply to all schools and students, including those participating in the Digital Education Center.
In times of emergencies/school closings, information will be shared with the community through the following:
Update: November 15, 2021
Effective Monday, October 11, visitors are not permitted to attend events that occur indoors or outdoors during the school day, such as spelling bees, assemblies, activities associated with American Education Week, and field days, to limit interaction with students in the school building.
MERV 13 air filters are unable to be installed in the HVAC equipment serving most areas at Glenwood Middle School, and parts of Hanover Hills Elementary School, Harper's Choice Middle School, Swansfield Elementary School, Waverly Elementary School, and Wilde Lake Middle School.
HCPSS is currently experiencing a shortage of bus drivers, as are school districts around Maryland and throughout the United States. The impact of this shortage will be similar for students with specialized transportation as it will be for all HCPSS students.
Students who have been approved for specialized transportation services by their IEP team will continue to receive those services. The number of students on each bus may be higher and the travel time between home and school may be longer.
After receiving a Chromebook, families can use the directions for connecting a Chromebook to Wi-Fi to connect it to their home network. Students who forget their username or password can use the Account Self Service directions to retrieve their account credentials. A variety of common self-help resources can be found on the Student Technology Resources Canvas community.
There is no cost for students to receive and/or use HCPSS Chromebooks. However, charges may be assessed for HCPSS-issued Chromebooks that are lost/stolen and/or damaged while in a student’s care and/or as the result of neglect on the part of the student.
HCPSS may charge families for lost, stolen and/or damaged devices per the following:
Update: March 10, 2022
In August 2021, due to rising numbers of COVID cases, all overnight field trips were put on hold. Additionally, in November, field trips in which students visited other Howard County schools during the school day were postponed.
Effective March 10, 2022, overnight and school-to-school field trips may resume and requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Yes, as part of a return to normalized instruction, students may be asked to share materials including school supplies, art materials, etc.
The Maryland State Department of Education provided expectations that all Maryland public school districts will provide a minimum of 180 days of in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 school year.
Please see this FAQ for information on students receiving special education services.
HCPSS is currently experiencing a shortage of bus drivers, as are school districts around Maryland and throughout the United States.
In order to continue to provide transportation services to all eligible students, using the existing buses and drivers we have available, bus routes and bus stops may look different than what you are used to seeing.
