The HCPSS Notice of Telehealth Consent form allows a related service provider to practice in a virtual environment. All related service providers must follow federal and state regulations with regard to privacy and security via telepractice in order to maintain their national certification and licensure.
UPDATE: October 26, 2020: Today the Maryland State Board of Education approved a start date of December 7, 2020, for high school athletics. HCPSS advocated for this plan, which was crafted by district athletics supervisors and issued by Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland.
Regarding information for the 2020-2021, the HCPSS website is updated regularly with new information and remains the repository of all information related to HCPSS’ coronavirus response. Many of the most important documents and resources have been translated and can be found online.
On September 10, 2020, the Howard County Board of Education voted to temporarily suspend sections of the elementary and secondary grading policies to institute procedures and calculations consistent with the HCPSS Reopening Plan for the 2020-2021 school year. The policy changes–effective immediately and set to terminate at the end of the school year–accommodate a shift to a virtual environment and a 4×4 semester schedule.
Students must be enrolled in at least one course at their high school in order to be eligible to participate in certain activities. Students should contact their high school counselor with questions regarding schedules and school-specific scheduling requirements.
Information on JumpStart can be found online.
Students may continue to take classes all school year even if all graduation requirements are met in the fall. Students must take at least one class at an HCPSS school to participate in activities.
School counselors are ensuring that all seniors will have complete schedules that may include dual enrollment or work based/non-work based release time. If a course is not available, school counselors will contact the student/family to select an alternate. In addition, counselors are cross-checking that all seniors will have their graduation requirements completed by the end of their senior year.
HCPSS is considering options for the Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) Field Experience class for the 2020-2021 school year. The class may include virtual classroom observations or a series of observation videos that would be developed. HCPSS staff are working to identify mentor teachers who would welcome TAM students into a virtual setting. Additional options will be considered if HCPSS moves to a hybrid or in-person model in the spring.
High school Student Services departments have shared the Waiver of Right to Access School Counselor/Teacher Letters of Recommendation fillable document to all students and families as part of the in-house college application packet. Students should contact their school counselors with any questions
The junior interview is a component of the World Of Work (WOW) graduation requirement. Each county determines how the WOW requirement is completed, and HCPSS will create a plan for students to meet this requirement. HCPSS does not expect a waiver from the Maryland State Department of Education.
