Yes. Students who must transition to virtual instruction as a result of an exposure (or possible exposure) to COVID-19 or any other illness will have the opportunity to return to in-person instruction as soon as they are permitted to return.
Yes. Parents/guardians will have the option of moving their student from in-person to virtual at any time.
Most students will be able to keep their teachers when the hybrid instructional model is implemented on March 1. As with a non-COVID situation, students occasionally get moved to different reading groups, etc., but the intent is to keep students with their quarter three teachers.
Upon entering phase 1B for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) staff became eligible to receive the vaccine. Demand for the vaccine currently exceeds supply and we do not know how quickly vaccines will become available as phase 1B consists of many people. In collaboration with the Howard County Health Department (HCHD), HCPSS will notify staff when they become eligible to register to receive their first dose of the vaccine. This will be done in four tiers, which consist of:
Update: Nov. 1, 2021
All student vaccine mandates must be directed by the State of Maryland, which currently is not requiring public school students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Local districts may not require vaccinations not mandated by the state.
Details on the State of Maryland required immunizations are available online.
Yes, all students, regardless of their decision for in-person or virtual instruction, may participate in in-person athletics.
Update: March 1, 2021
All student schedules will change effective Monday, March 1, regardless of whether the student is returning in-person or remaining virtual. Please note:
Parents/guardians were sent an email with the link to the commitment form, which also can be accessed directly at https://www.hcpss.org/connect/. If you are unable to access the link, or need assistance completing the commitment form, please contact your child’s school for assistance.
Update: February 25, 2021
Transportation will be provided for those students who are not identified as walkers and/or those who would have otherwise been provided transportation services.
To determine if your child is eligible for transportation services and/or to determine bus stop locations and times, please use the HCPSS School Bus Locator.
PLEASE NOTE: Pickup times and bus stop locations are updated as needed and are subject to change.
All HCPSS students will be offered the opportunity to return in-person. Some students may take part in a full-week program, including but not limited to students receiving Special Education services, those who were identified for the HCPSS small group program earlier in the year, and others as identified by school administrators. Other students may take part in a one- or two-day program.
Parents/guardians were given the following options, as applicable to each of their children:
