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.
The HCPSS Return to Play Committee Plan provides the framework, guiding principles, and operating procedures for the interscholastic athletics program. The plan will incorporate national, state and local health guidelines and recommendations. The committee will be looking at how the first semester virtual and in-person athletic instruction may look.
The guiding principles of the HCPSS Return to Play include promoting our core values of equity and access to allow for the participation for all students.
Within Stages 1 and 2 of Governor Hogan’s Roadmap to Recovery, there will be segmented approaches for gradual resumption and administration of athletics and activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes the segmented approach through a risk assessment.
Parents/guardians of children who will be five as of September 1, 2021, must enroll their children in kindergarten for the 202-2022 school year. Per Board of Education Policy 9000 Implementation Procedures – Student Enrollment, parents of children of age to attend kindergarten may request an exemption for from mandatory school attendance for one year by completing a Kindergarten Waiver form.
The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA), under the direction of the governor, state superintendent of schools and state board of education, determines the sports seasons. As members of the MPSSAA, HCPSS sports operate within the confines of the designated seasons. However, once seasons are established, based on Howard County health guidelines and HCPSS operating procedures, HCPSS will determine the timeline for entering the various risk levels of activities, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and MPSSAA guidance.
Back to school nights will be held virtually in August and September 2020. Details, including school-specific dates and times, will be posted to the HCPSS website and shared via school email as they become available.
Students enrolled in Apprenticeship Work-Based Learning, G/T Intern/Mentor, Transition Activities, Career and Technical Education (CTE) internships at ARL or as part of Career and Research Development (CRD) may participate in on-site or virtual work associated with these courses on a case-by-case basis. Students may email their teacher for more information.
Through grants and additional funds, HCPSS is able to purchase a sufficient amount of devices necessary to eventually achieve a 1:1 student-to-device ratio for all students in grades pre-K through 12. However, due to unexpected vendor delays, order fulfillment will not arrive as expected and HCPSS is adjusting its device distribution plan.
Update: July 1, 2021
Based on the Board of Education Policy 10020 Use of School Facilities and aligned with Howard County Government policies/procedures, and CDC and Howard County Department of Health guidance, HCPSS is phasing in community usage of school facilities for child care, school-related support groups, and Howard County Government and nonprofit organization sponsored events.
Links to summer enrichment activities for students at all grade levels are provided online for any families who wish to use them. Also online is information regarding volunteer and activism opportunities, and family and community resources.
Additionally, recommended summer reading lists for students in all grade levels, developed by HCPSS library media specialists and Howard County Library System staff, are available online.
