The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) recently expanded its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It is possible that families may qualify now for SNAP benefits, based on economic down-turn due to COVID-19. Visit the DHS website to learn more.
Parents/guardians who allow their children to access a personal Chromebook with a supervised Family Link Account can add your child’s school-issued Google Account directly to your Chromebook by completing the following steps:
Aligning with the Maryland State Department of Education’s decision to close all schools through the remainder of the current school year, all Howard County Public School System schools will remain closed to public access.
Each school is coordinating retrieval of items left behind in order to ensure safe and healthy social distancing and adherence to health guidelines. Please email your school principal with any questions.
The attendance area adjustments approved by the Howard County Board of Education on November 21, 2019 are well underway. Prior to the school closure on March 16, 2020, HCPSS had already set in motion all of the actions necessary to ensure a smooth transition for the adopted school boundaries being implemented for the next school year.
Starting Monday, April 27, 2020, teachers at all levels began documenting student attendance during Continuity of Learning using a point system based on student participation in learning activities each week. Students earning the required minimum number of points will be marked “Present” for the week; those earning fewer points will be marked “Absent.” Staff will monitor each student’s level of participation, and will reach out to families to provide additional support for students frequently marked “Absent.”
Parents/guardians who wish to withdraw a student during the 2019-2020 school year should email the school principal with the following information: your child’s name, date of birth, the name and address of the new school where your child is moving to, and the withdrawal date. Contact information for each school can be found online.
The Board of Education has transitioned to a hybrid Board meeting format, providing the public the opportunity to participate in public hearings virtually or in person. Community members need to select if they wish to speak in person or virtually when completing the registration to testify. Community members wishing to testify at public hearings may pre-register by telephone (410-313-7194 or 410-313-1584) or online (see below). Registration opens three weeks prior to a hearing and closes at 4:30 p.m. the last working day prior to a meeting.
The Board of Education is currently in a hybrid Board meeting format, providing the public the opportunity to participate in public forums virtually or in person.
The Howard County Board of Education is currently in a hybrid board meeting format, with some Board members and staff participating in person while others continue participating remotely.
Any time of year, HCPSS provides phone referral services for families with questions and concerns related to school matters. Parents may call the International Call Center and leave messages in their native language.
Additional information in Spanish, Korean, Chinese and Chin can be found online.
