Student Handbook - Harford County Public Schools

2012-2013
Parent-Student
Handbook & Calendar

Handbook Table of Contents
Board of Educaon Informaon ........................................................................................................................................... 1
List of Board Members
2012-2013 Board Business Meeng Schedule
How to Contact the Board of Educaon
About HCPS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Superintendent’s Pen
Mission & Vision Statements
HCPS Teacher of the Year
School Informaon .............................................................................................................................................................. 3
Hours of Operaon
Alternave Educaon
Communicaon
Elementary School
Food & Nutrion
Grading ................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Health Services Program
High School
Home & Hospital Instrucon................................................................................................................................... 5
Inclement Weather Policy
Homework............................................................................................................................................................... 6
Internet Use in Schools
Medicaons
Middle Schools ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Resolving School Concerns
Student Services ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Volunteering & Vising Schools
Board of Educaon Policy Informaon................................................................................................................................. 9
Aendance
Aendance Areas ................................................................................................................................................... 11
Child Abuse/Neglect
Facility Informaon
Immunizaon Requirements .................................................................................................................................. 13
Privacy Rights of Parents & Students ..................................................................................................................... 14
Rights & Responsibilies of Students .................................................................................................................... 15
Safe Schools ........................................................................................................................................................... 16
Special Educaon ................................................................................................................................................... 18
Student Discipline
Student-Parent Survey to Idenfy Federally Connected Students ......................................................................... 20
Transportaon ....................................................................................................................................................... 21
Title IX Complaint Procedures ............................................................................................................................... 22
Wellness Policy
Phone Directory ................................................................................................................................................................. 23
2012-2013 Calendar ........................................................................................................................................................... 24
2013-2014 Calendar ........................................................................................................................................................... 49
Map of Harford County ...................................................................................................................................................... 50

Board of Education of Harford County
MEMBERS
Leonard D. Wheeler, Ed.D.
President,
Appointed Member-at-Large
Francis F. “Rick” Grambo, III
Vice President,
Elected Member,
Councilmanic District D
Alysson L. Krchnavy
Appointed Member-at-Large
Nancy Reynolds
Appointed Member-at-Large
Joseph A. Hau
Appointed Member-at-Large
Board of Education Public Meetings
Regular meengs of the Board of Educaon are normally held on the second
and fourth Monday of each month (except July and August) at 6:30 p.m.
All meengs are announced in advance on the HCPS website and in other
print/electronic media. Meengs are open to the public, unless otherwise
announced, and aendance is encouraged for those with an interest in
business operaons of the school system. If you are unable to aend the
meengs, watch them live via streaming video on the school system’s
website.
Each regular, public business meeng of the Board includes a public comment
period. Any cizen, group representave, parent or student may make a
statement regarding an item on a past, present or future Board open-session
agenda, or a maer of general policy over which the Board has jurisdicon. To
find out how to register to speak at an upcoming meeng, visit
www.hcps.org.
Stay connected to the Board of Educaon news. A summary of acon items
and presentaons are posted aer every meeng on www.hcps.org. Click on
the “In the Loop” link on the home page of our website.
MEETING SCHEDULE
ALL MEETINGS BEGIN AT 6:30 P.M. MEETING DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
James D. Thornton
Appointed Member-at-Large
Robert L. Frisch
Elected Member,
Councilmanic District A
Cassandra R. Beverley, Esq.
Elected Member,
Councilmanic District B
Panashe I. Mutombo
Student Representave
2012
September 10
September 24
October 8
October 22
November 5
November 19
December 3
December 17
2013
January 14
January 28
February 11
February 25
March 11
March 25
April 8
April 22
May 13
May 28
June 10
June 24
July 15
August 12
Robert M. Tomback, Ph.D.
Secretary-Treasurer,
Superintendent of Schools
For correspondence directed to the Board, write President, Board of Educaon of Harford
County, 102 S. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, Maryland 21014. In addion to the live stream archive
on the school system website, Board Business meengs will be televised on a tape delay basis by
HCN on the second and fourth Tuesdays beginning at 8:00 p.m. on Comcast channel 21, Verizon
FiOS channel 31 and Armstrong (formerly Clearview) channel 7 and can be viewed on demand by
logging onto our website (www.hcps.org).
Visit www.hcps.org and view “Hot Topics” on the right-hand side to send the Board your thoughts on current topics!
Board of Educaon members listed above as of July 1, 2012. For updated informaon on the Board of Educaon, visit hp://www.hcps.org/BOE/Default.aspx.
1

About Harford County Public Schools
Approximately 38,000 students are enrolled in Harford County’s public schools. The school
system has the eighth largest student enrollment of the 24 public school systems in Maryland.
Approximately 5,500 people are employed by the school system to provide the necessary
educaonal programs and supporng services for the students.
Currently, in the Harford County public school system, there are 33 elementary schools, nine
middle schools, nine comprehensive high schools, the John Archer School (a special school for
students with disabilies), Harford Technical High School and the Alternave Educaon Program
-- making a total of 54 schools.
Based upon firm beliefs in the value of youth and the obligaons of public educaon to educate
each of them effecvely, the Harford County public school system provides comprehensive
instruconal programs and related student acvies for the youth who are currently enrolled.
Prekindergarten classes are available for four-year-olds at 19 of the Harford County public
elementary schools. A system-wide kindergarten program begins public educaon for the fiveyear-olds
with all 33 elementary schools offering all-day kindergarten. A carefully planned and
appropriately sequenced curriculum extends learning from the primary and intermediate grades
of elementary, middle and high school grades toward graduaon. Special programs and services
are provided to accommodate the unique needs of each student, including those who possess
exceponal abilies, talents, and/or disabilies.
Mission
The mission of Harford County Public Schools is to promote excellence in instruconal leadership
and teaching and to provide facilies and instruconal materials that support teaching and
learning for the 21st century. The Harford County Board of Educaon will support this mission by
fostering a climate for deliberate change and monitoring progress through measurable indicators.
Vision
Harford County Public Schools will be a community of learners in which our public schools,
families, public officials, businesses, community organizaons, and other cizens work
collaboravely to prepare all of our students to succeed academically and socially in a diverse,
democrac, change-oriented, and global society.
HCPS 2012-13 Teacher of the Year
Chrisna O’Neill has served the students, staff and community of Harford County
for the last 18 years. She has served as a teacher, reading specialist, literacy leader
and volunteer with HCPS. Mrs. O’Neill earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English
from the College of Notre Dame in 1993, a Masters of Educaon from Loyola
College in 1997 and administrave cerficaon from Towson University in 2003. At
the local, state, and naonal levels, she has presented on issues related to leading
and learning, school improvement and state assessments. Currently, Mrs. O’Neill
is a member of the Instruconal Leadership and School Improvement teams at Bel
Air Middle School. She volunteers her me and resources to iniate school-based
service learning projects such as a leer wring campaign to the United States
Military, collecng items for the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and parcipang
in the American Heart Associaon’s Hoops for Heart iniave. Mrs. O’Neill also organizes a book breakfast
for the enre Bel Air Middle School staff in January, giving teachers a chance to share and exchange
current books, create reading profiles to engage students as readers and donate books to women’s
shelters and other organizaons. In addion to her role in the classroom, Mrs. O’Neill teaches Sunday
school at her church and serves as a parent liaison for the Monkton Country Day Care Center. Visit www.
hcps.org for details on the Harford County Public Schools Teacher of the Year program and don’t forget to
check out Mrs. O’Neill’s blog!
Superintendent’s Pen
Dear Community:
This handbook is published
each year to provide parents,
students, and employees of
Harford County Public Schools
with essenal informaon. It
includes the school system
rules and regulaons, school
calendar, and other pernent
informaon, as well as artwork
by some of our outstanding
students. I trust you will find
the contents of this handbook
to be informave and useful.
Included in this handbook
are instrucons on how to
get answers to quesons
or concerns that may arise.
Addional assistance may be
obtained by calling
410-838-7300 and by logging
on to the Harford County Public
Schools website at www.hcps.
org. Also, the school system and
individual schools will connue
to employ a rapid telephone
noficaon system this year
to convey emergency and
other important informaon
to parents. The school system
will also connue an email
informaon system which
you can opt into by lisng a
valid email address on the
emergency card that comes
home with your child on the
first day of school or ulizing
our new parent portal. More
informaon on the email, text,
and phone system may be
obtained by logging on to our
website.
I wish your child and you a
successful 2012-2013 school
year.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Tomback, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Items listed in this handbook are subject to change without noce aer the July 1, 2012 prinng date.
2

School Information
The following informaon is school-based pracces, policies and informaon. For more informaon visit, www.hcps.org.
HOURS OF OPERATION
STARTING TIME
DISMISSAL
High Schools 7:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m.
Middle Schools* 8:15 a.m. 2:45 p.m.
Elementary Schools** 9:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m.
John Archer 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.
Prekindergarten a.m. session*** 9:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
Prekindergarten p.m. session*** 1:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
* North Harford Middle School will connue to operate on the same schedule as North Harford High School.
** Havre de Grace, William S. James, and Deerfield elementary schools will operate on the 4th er busing schedule, 9:30 a.m. unl 4:00 p.m.
*** 4th er busing schedule for prekindergarten, 9:30 a.m. - noon; 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION
A program of alternave educaon is provided at the Center for
Educaonal Opportunity. Secondary school students who have longterm
suspensions from school are eligible to enroll in the alternave
educaon program and will receive credit for sasfactorily completed
work. In addion, secondary school students whose educaonal,
emoonal, financial, physical or other needs are such that they
cannot be met in the regular school program are eligible to apply for
admission to the alternave program.
COMMUNICATION
Harford County Public Schools is commied to parental, family and
community involvement in the educaonal process. Harford County
Public Schools encourages two-way communicaon and strives to keep
the public informed about issues affecng its schools, decisions made by
the Board of Educaon of Harford County and student acvies through
various methods of regular communicaon.
Rapid Noficaon System
New this year, Harford County Public Schools will launch the
Blackboard Connect 5 phone noficaon system. Parents will now be
able to manage contact informaon and noficaon preferences by
ulizing the Parent Portal. Parent’s can access the new Parent Portal
by vising www.hcps.org.
More informaon and Parent Portal instrucons can be found on the
school system website.
Website & Social Media
The school system’s website, www.hcps.org, offers informaon to
meet the needs of parents, students, staff and the general community.
The “Parents” tab at the top of the homepage includes links to useful
informaon such as registraon informaon, brochures, immunizaon
requirements, academic programs and calendars, as well as athlec
and arts informaon. This page serves as a quick resource to the mostrequested
informaon for you.
Android and iPhone users should check out our mobile site for
announcements, downloadable calendars for smartphone users and
quick links.
Follow us on Facebook, Twier and LinkedIn.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Harford County Public Schools offers a wide variety of programs
at the elementary
level including gied
educaon, summer
school and instrumental
music. We have
prekindergarten
programs in 19 of our
elementary schools
designed to meet the
needs of at-risk students.
There are 21 before
and aer school on-site
daycare centers available for the community. All of our kindergarten
programs are full-day. For more detailed informaon on elementary
school offerings in your aendance area, please visit individual school
Edline pages on www.hcps.org.
FOOD & NUTRITION
School food prices are subject to change pending an annual review of
revenue/expenses.
All Harford County Public Schools conduct breakfast and lunch
programs. Menus are distributed through the schools, published in local
newspapers, announced over local radio and television staons, and are
on the Harford County Public Schools website (www.hcps.org). The cost
of lunch appears on the menu and is subject to change.
Parcipaon in the Federal Government School Food & Nutrion
Program has also made it possible to provide some Harford County
Public Schools students with free or reduced price meals. Applicaon
forms and guidelines for determining a student’s eligibility to receive
free or reduced price meals are distributed to each child in August. One
applicaon can be completed for the enre household when all family
members are listed. Applicaons for the program are available in school
offices and parents may apply for benefits at any me during the school
year.
Cafeterias are equipped with computers, which allow parents to deposit
money which may be specified for prepaid breakfasts, lunches, or snack
items. Deposits can be made directly to the cafeteria staff or online at
the following website: www.cafeprepay.com.
If you do not designate whether your deposit is for a specific amount
of breakfasts, lunches, or a specific dollar amount for a la carte, then
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the deposit goes into the “on account” category and can be used for
any of the three purchases.
Students using personal idenficaon numbers (PIN) can withdraw
money for food purchases.
GRADING
Student progress is formally reported to parents in November,
February, April, and June (at the end of the school year). In addion,
teachers communicate with parents informally by means of
conferences, leers, emails and telephone calls. The Edline online
system is used to communicate progress of secondary students through
the use of an assigned PIN number.
No report card is issued in November to elementary school children.
Instead, a conference is scheduled for parents and teachers so that
they may discuss each child’s rate of progress, expected standards for
learning and discipline, school curriculum, and school goals. Elementary
school students receive report cards in February, April, and June.
Students in grades six through 12 receive report cards at the end of
each of the four marking periods.
Students in prekindergarten, kindergarten, and grades one and two
receive a non-graded report card. In grades three, four and five, leer
grades are used to indicate the level of student progress in integrated
language arts, social studies, science, and mathemacs. Art, music,
media, and physical educaon are marked consistently evident, evident
or not assessed. Handwring and 17 habits and atudes listed on the
report card, are marked S (sasfactory) or N (needs improvement).
Progress at the secondary level is recorded by means of the leer
grades A, B, C, D, or E.
HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM
The Health Services Program is an integral part of the educaonal
support system and maximizes every student’s learning potenal by
promong his or her opmum health. Each school is assigned a school
nurse. Please contact your child’s school to speak to the nurse.
HIGH SCHOOL
Harford County Public Schools has ten high schools that offer a variety
of instruconal and extracurricular programs. The following informaon
is specific to students.
SUBJECT
DIPLOMA
English 4
Social Studies + 3
Science ^ 3
Mathemacs ++ 4
Fine Arts 1
Technology Educaon 1
Physical Educaon 1
Health 1/2
Career Pathway 4
Foreigh Language OR Advanced Technology
OR Successful Compleon of State Approved
career or tech program
Elecve 1/2 - 2 1/2
TOTAL 26
2
4
+ 1 in World History, 1 in U.S. History, 1 in Local, State and
Naonal Government
++ 1 with fundamental or advanced algebraic concepts; 1 with
fundamental or advanced geometric concepts
^ Must include one credit in Biology
Graduaon Requirements (For the class of 2013)
Addional Requirements:
• English courses in grades nine, ten, and eleven must be taken
sequenally and a student may not enroll in the next grade level
unl he/she has passed the preceding one. The excepon is English
12, which may be taken simultaneously with English 11, during the
senior year.
• Eighth graders are given the opon of registering for the Maryland
State Scholars program. Check with a local high school counselor
for more informaon.
• To be eligible for a high school diploma, all students must
complete the Maryland State Department of Educaon student
service learning requirements as developed by Harford County
Public Schools.
• Students must pass the applicable Maryland High School
Assessment (HSA) at the end of the course in English 2, Algebra 1,
and biology, with a combined score of 1208, in order to receive a
Maryland high school diploma.
Students have the following alternaves to meet the High School
Assessment (HSA) graduaon requirements:
• If students do not pass all three tests, they may sasfy the HSA
requirement using the combined-score opon. The combined
score for all three tests must be 1208. If students have taken
government HSA, they have the opon of meeng graduaon
requirements by meeng the combined score on all four tests of
1602 or on the three test with a combined score of 1208, in order
to receive a Maryland high school diploma.
• Modified HSAs with altered test items are available for a small
poron of students with disabilies.
• The Bridge Plan for Academic Validaon is for students who
have been unable to pass one or more HSAs, despite assistance.
Students must meet three general eligibility criteria: taken
and failed the test at least twice, parcipaon in appropriate
assistance, and sasfactory progress toward graduaon. Students
eligible for parcipaon will meet with school staff to determine
the projects to be included in the student’s Academic Validaon
Project Package.
4

Excepons To The Regular High School Program
Under certain circumstances, students may waive a fourth year of high
school aendance. Upon receiving permission from the school principal
and the superintendent of schools, a student may be awarded a diploma
aer acceptance and/or successful compleon of one year of college or
post-secondary educaon.
In addion to the regular school program, students may earn credits by
aending summer school or the Alternave Educaon Program.
Seniors may receive approval from the principal and the execuve director
of high school performance to earn one addional credit beyond the
credits earned during the regular school day.
Quesons concerning “excepons to the regular high school program”
should be directed to the high school counseling office.
High School Eligibility Policy
In order to parcipate in curricular and extracurricular acvies in any
Harford County public school, students shall be officially registered and
physically aending a Harford County public school. A student may be
declared ineligible to parcipate in extracurricular acvies for reasons
based on scholasc status and/or cizenship. A student will be declared
ineligible when the
student has received
a failing grade in
any subject on a
quarterly report
card. For a complete
lisng of eligibility
rules, please refer
to individual school
handbooks.
Magnet Programs
Harford County Public Schools offers four magnet programs for incoming
high school freshman:
• The Internaonal Baccalaureate Organizaon (IBO) at Edgewood High
School
• The Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences Magnet (NRAS) at
North Harford High School
• Harford Technical High School
• Science and Mathemacs Academy (SMA) at Aberdeen High School
An open house is hosted at each school offering students and parents an indepth
look at the specific magnet program offered at the school. They have
an opportunity to hear more about the program in general, meet teachers,
students and parents currently involved with the Magnet Program, and see
the school facilies. Open house dates are typically scheduled in the fall
and will be posted on www.hcps.org.
Each prospecve student must complete an applicaon for entrance
into any Harford County Public Schools magnet program. Want more
informaon? Watch the overview videos and discover more on each
program at our website, www.hcps.org.
HOME & HOSPITAL INSTRUCTION
Students who cannot aend school for a minimum of 20 consecuve days,
due to verified physical or emoonal condion, may apply for short - term
Home/Hospital Teachers Services. If approved, a home teacher is assigned.
A licensed physician, cerfied school or licensed psychologist, or licensed
psychiatrist must sign the applicaon, which is available from the Student
Services office. For more informaon, contact Student Services at
410-588-5334.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
All public schools in Harford County will be closed on
days when roads, school parking lots, and/or school
driveways/walkways are considered to be unsafe for school bus
transportaon/student, staff use. The decision to close is made by
the superintendent of schools as early as possible on the morning
in queson. In the vast majority of cases, this is prior to 6:00 a.m.
The determinaon is made aer consulng with the state police,
the sheriff’s office, the state and county highway departments,
and other sources of informaon in different parts of the county.
Some weather condions make it advisable to delay the opening
me of schools.
• If schools are delayed one hour, morning half-day
prekindergarten will start at 10:00 a.m.; aernoon half-day
prekindergarten will proceed as originally scheduled.
• If schools are delayed two hours there will be no morning
half-day prekindergarten or early intervenon programs;
aernoon half-day prekindergarten will proceed as
originally scheduled. (All mes will be a half hour later for
fourth er busing schools.)
• If elementary schools have a scheduled teachers’ planning
early dismissal and there is a two-hour delay due to
inclement weather, students will NOT be dismissed early
but will remain in school for the regular school day.
Any change from the normal school schedule as a result of
inclement weather - snow, ice, heat, etc. - will be communicated
through our rapid telephone noficaon system, email, Twier,
Facebook and on radio and television broadcasts to the public.
In addion, closings will be listed on the Harford County Public
Schools website at www.hcps.org.
Parents have the right not to send their children to school if they
feel travel condions are unsafe. The student will be marked as
lawfully absent.
The announcement will be made only when schools will be
closed or when there are delayed openings or early closings. No
telephone calls or media announcements will be made when
schools are open as usual.
In order to keep school telephone lines open for emergency calls,
parents are urged not to call the school concerning the possibility
of early closures. This informaon will be reported as soon as
possible using the communicaon vehicles listed above.
The school system website is always kept up-to-date with school/
school system delays, closures and early dismissals.
www.hcps.org
NOTE: This calendar contains the potenal for 188 student
days -- eight more than the state minimum requirement of 180
days. If schools are closed eight days or more due to emergency
condions, weather related or otherwise, it may be necessary
to alter the school calendar. The calendar may be reduced if
emergency days are not needed to meet the state mandated
minimum required days.
5

HOMEWORK
Properly planned homework assignments should relate directly to class
work and extend learning beyond the classroom. Effecve homework
assignments teach students to become independent learners. While
it is recognized that student achievement improves significantly when
teachers regularly assign homework and students conscienously
complete assignments, homework has other important purposes.
Homework provides the students valuable experiences in following
direcons, making judgments, raising addional quesons for study,
and developing responsibility and self-discipline.
Addionally, homework is a means to communicate with parents
regarding current class acvies and topics of study.
1. Appropriateness of Homework
Homework should be appropriate to the age, ability, and
independent level of students. Student characteriscs including
grade level, movaon, and study habits must be considered.
2. Assignment Characteriscs and Inial Classroom Factors
Teachers should ensure that students understand the purpose of
each homework assignment. The amount of homework, the skills
to be reinforced, and compleon deadlines influence student
outcomes.
3. Types of Assignments
Taking into consideraon the direcons that students need in
order to successfully complete their homework, it is reasonable
to expect that assignments can extend learning beyond the
classroom in a number of ways. Types of assignments may include
the following:
a. The PRACTICE assignment reinforces previous learning
and should be adapted to the ability and progress of each
student.
b. EXTENSION assignments allow students to go beyond
memorizaon of content and provide for the transfer of
learning to a new situaon which requires students to apply
previously learned skills.
c. CREATIVE assignments ask students to integrate skills and
concepts in order to generate a new response.
d. REVIEW assignments enable students to clarify concepts and
to gain an overview of material that has been taught.
4. Approximate Hours for Homework Compleon
At the primary level, homework should collecvely range from
two to three hours weekly but not exceed one-half hour a
night. At the intermediate level, homework should collecvely
range from three to five hours weekly but not exceed forty-five
minutes a night. In the middle school, homework me should
approximate a collecve range from four to eight hours weekly
but not more than two hours per night. High school homework
me should collecvely range from five to 12 hours weekly
but not more than three hours per night. Teachers should use
these me approximaons as a reference when considering
homework assignments. In addion, teachers should be mindful
that students who are accountable to more than one teacher will
have homework from more than one subject or class. Homework
may be assigned over weekends. Students desiring to take
Honors level and/or AP courses should be highly movated and
commied to excellence. Students will be required to do a great
deal of reading, wring, and higher-level problem solving in these
rigorous courses. Students may also be required to complete
assignments given over the summer vacaon.
5. Holiday homework is not to be assigned over holidays when
public schools are closed.
6. Classroom Follow-up
Teachers must consistently monitor and assess homework
assignments. In addion to tesng related content or using
assignments in class discussions, feedback should be provided in
the form of wrien comments, grades, or incenves.
INTERNET USE IN SCHOOLS
Harford County Public Schools provides telecommunicaons resources
to its students for educaonal purposes: the acquision of informaon/
resources, communicaons and collaboraon with experts, and career
development acvies. Telecommunicaons resources shall be used in
accordance with the educaonal goals of the school system.
Student use of the resources provided shall be under the direct
supervision of the teacher and shall be instruconally related.
Reasonable precauons will be taken to ensure that the Internet is
a safe learning environment for students. Students will be expected
to demonstrate responsible and ethical behavior in the use of the
resources.
Access to the Internet through the telecommunicaons resources
will only be granted to users who follow the Harford County Public
Schools Acceptable Use and Internet Safety Policy for Students and the
procedures for such use. These policies are published on the Harford
County Public Schools website (www.hcps.org).
Harford County Public Schools ulizes an outside Internet filtering
company to ensure the safety of our students while they access the
Internet. The use of this filter system also allows Harford County
Public Schools to comply with the Child Internet Protecon Act (CIPA).
Although the web filtering product ulizes the most innovave and
cung edge technology, it is sll possible for students to access specific
websites should students seek them with intenon and purpose.
Therefore, the only way a parent can be completely assured his or her
child will not be able to access inappropriate material is to opt-out of
Internet use at school. Your school can help you with this process.
MEDICATIONS
When a student is taking a prescribed medicaon, parents/guardians
should make every effort to arrange for the medicine to be taken outside
of the school day. However, there are occasions when it is determined by
a health care provider that a student must receive prescribed medicaon
during the school day, either on a regular schedule or in the event of an
emergency. When this circumstance occurs, the following guidelines apply:
• All medicaon must be accompanied by a wrien health care
provider’s order. These instrucons must contain the student’s
name, name of the medicaon, the route of administraon,
the exact dosage, me and circumstances of administraon,
length of me the medicaon is to be connued, reason for
6

administraon, health care provider’s name, me and frequency
of administraon and date of order. Parents/guardians must
also provide wrien authorizaon to administer medicaon to
their child. For your convenience, a form is available from the
school nurse. No medicaon may be administered to a student
without the required health care provider’s order and parent/
guardian permission. Faxed medicaon orders are acceptable.
In some circumstances, orders wrien on health care provider’s
leerhead or prescripon pad is acceptable.
• The parent/guardian should give the first dose of any new
prescripon or over the counter medicaon at home (except for
emergency medicaon, e.g. Epi-Pen®).
• Medicaon must be in its original prescripon bole, properly
labeled by the pharmacy. Pharmacies can provide a second
labeled bole to accommodate medicaons that are given at
school. Siblings may not share medicaon.
• Discreonary medicaons are available for occasional use only to
students who have a signed permission slip on file in the health
suite. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, diphenhydramine, antacid
tablets and cough drops may be administered under the ordered
protocols of the physician from the Harford County Health
Department and at the discreon of the school nurse.
• Over-the-counter medicaons that are required on a more than
occasional basis must be accompanied by an order from an
authorized health care provider and supplied and transported to
the health suite by the parent/guardian.
Parents/guardians or their designee must bring the medicaon to the
school personally. Students are not permied to carry medicaon on
school buses or the school grounds. Under extenuang circumstances
there may be excepons. This is for the safety of all students.
• If the health care provider feels that your child must carry and
self-administer either an inhaler or Epi-Pen®, please have the
health care provider complete the “Permission for Students to
Carry/Self Administer Medicaons” form, stang the medical
necessity for carrying the medicaon. The parent/guardian
must also sign the form. This completed form must be given to
the school nurse. The school nurse will nofy all appropriate
personnel when such excepons are granted, including bus
drivers. A copy of this form will be retained in the student’s
confidenal health folder. The Contract for Self-Administraon of
Medicaon must also be completed. Back-up medicaons must
be kept in the health suite.
• No medicaon will be stored over the summer. The parent/
guardian must pick up all medicaon by the end of the school day
on the last day of school. Any remaining medicaon not picked
up by a parent/guardian will be destroyed. No medicaon will be
sent home with a student.
• A new health care provider’s order and parent/guardian
permission form is required for medicaons at the beginning
of each new school year, and for any changes during the school
year.
• Students are permied to carry cough drops, but must have
wrien parent/guardian permission. No health care provider’s
order is required.
The following measures are taken to ensure the safety of the student
taking medicaons.
• All medicaons are kept in a locked cabinet in the health suite at
all mes.
• Medicaon must be taken in the presence of the school nurse,
principal, or designee.
• Records are maintained documenng the medicaon taken,
date, me, and the person who administered it. Immunizaon
requirements can be found on page 13.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
All nine middle schools offer
comprehensive programs of
study designed to meet state
grade level and graduaon
requirements. Harford
County middle schools offer
a wide and varied range of
extracurricular and club related
acvies. These can include
experiences in music, drama,
fine arts, publicaons, and
areas of student interest. For
more informaon on a specific
school, visit www.hcps.org.
RESOLVING SCHOOL CONCERNS
Academic
Academic quesons or concerns should first be discussed with the
student’s classroom teacher at a face-to-face conference or over
the phone. If the issue cannot be resolved at this level, you should
contact the following personnel, in the order listed, unl a resoluon is
achieved:
• Your student’s teacher
• Assistant Principal
• Principal
• Execuve Director of Elementary School Performance, Execuve
Director of Middle School Performance or Execuve Director of
High School Performance
• Superintendent (the Superintendent may direct a designee to
respond to the concern)
• Board of Educaon of Harford County
Athlec/Extracurricular
High school athlec and extracurricular quesons or concerns should
first be discussed with the school’s athlec director, group sponsor
or team coach at a face-to-face conference or over the phone. If the
issue cannot be resolved at this level, you should contact the following
personnel, in the order listed, unl a resoluon is achieved:
• Principal
• Supervisor of Athlecs (for athlec concerns)
• Execuve Director of High School Performance
• Superintendent (or designee)
• Board of Educaon of Harford County
Disciplinary or Other School-based Concerns
Disciplinary or other school quesons or concerns should be first
discussed with the school assistant principal at a face-to-face
conference or over the phone. If the issue cannot be resolved at this
level, you should follow the same order listed above unl a resoluon is
achieved. Please refer to the Discipline Policies on page 18.
Grievance
Students have the right to seek changes in school policies and rules.
Students also have the right to air grievances related to school policies
and rules through a democracally elected representave student
government.
A principal’s decision may be appealed. Only in those cases wherein the
rights of students, as defined in this document, are allegedly violated
may an appeal be made beyond the school to the Superintendent
7

of Schools of Harford County. Such an appeal shall be made in the
following manner.
1. A wrien appeal or grievance should be directed to the
appropriate execuve director within 30 calendar days. If
unresolved at this level, the appeal or grievance will proceed
to step 2.
2. A wrien appeal or grievance should be directed to the
Superintendent of Schools within 15 calendar days.
of November.
Visitor Policy: The Board of Educaon is commied to maintaining a
safe and secure environment for all students, staff, and other persons.
The me, place, and manner by which persons visit the public schools
and other public school buildings are subject to such control and
regulaons as the superintendent and staff deem appropriate in order
to protect and secure the safety of all students, staff, and others who
parcipate in the school community.
STUDENT SERVICES
There are a variety of services available to provide help for children
with special needs. At the school level, the teacher, school counselor,
school nurse, and school administrator assist students with everyday
problems. Specialized personnel such as pupil personnel workers and
psychologists are called into the school to help with more complex
student problems. Parents who feel that their student may have need
of special services should contact the student’s school or the Office of
Student Services at 410-588-5334.
VOLUNTEERING & VISITATION IN SCHOOLS
Volunteering: Hundreds of persons each year assist students in the
schools by donang their me to work in classrooms, libraries, and
health rooms. These individuals make valuable contribuons to the
educaonal system by working directly with children or by performing
dues which allow others to give students more individual aenon.
Volunteers are selected at the school level and assigned specific dues.
Before they actually begin work, they parcipate in meengs which are
designed to help them become familiar with the school program and
their new roles. Following these general meengs, the teacher and the
volunteer meet to discuss classroom standards, roune operaons, and
dues to be performed. Persons interested in donang their services
should contact the schools in which they would like to work.
Harford County Public Schools invites and encourages the parcipaon
of parents and community members in the educaon of their students.
All parents and community members are expected to parcipate
acvely in program planning and decision making. Visit www.hcps.org
for the full policy.
Vising: Parents are invited to visit their student’s school to observe
classes in session and talk with teachers and other members of the
school staff. In order to ensure that those persons with whom the
parent wishes to talk are available, it is advisable to call the school and
make an appointment in advance of the visit. A special effort is made
each year to encourage parents and other cizens to visit the schools
during American Educaon Week, which is observed during the month
Cover Photos
Students at Riverside Elementary during Pinwheel’s for Peace Day
STEM Fest at Deerfield Elementary
Black History Month Celebraon at Aberdeen Middle School
GEM’s Summer Camp
Joppatowne High School Green Roof Project
Ring Factory Elementary Blue Ribbon Celebraon
Fumancho Ravens Playoff Celebraon at Emmorton Elementary
Chrisna O’Neill, Bel Air Middle School, HCPS Teacher of the Year
Edgewood High School RAM Branch Opening
Character Day at George Lisby Elementary School at Hillsdale
Prospect Mill Elementary Birdhouse Project
Internaonal Baccalaureate Graduang Class, Edgewood High
School
Educaon Day, William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary
8

Board of Education Policies
Please Note: The contents of this handbook are meant as a summary of frequently used Board of Educaon
policies and procedures. For a detailed list of Board policies, please access the Board Policy Manual on our website,
www.hcps.org > Board> Board Policies.
ATTENDANCE
Daily aendance is crucial to student achievement and required in order
to demonstrate mastery of material and receive credit for courses.
Students are expected to aend school and all classes regularly and to
be punctual. Upon returning to school from an absence, a student is
required to bring a wrien note from his or her parent/guardian stang
the reason for each absence.
I. General Regulaons
A. Each child who resides in this state and is five-years-old or older and
less than 16 years of age shall aend a public school regularly during
the enre school year except under specific provisions of Maryland law
or regulaon.
B. A student is considered in aendance at school when parcipang
in school-sponsored acvies during the school day, and when that
parcipaon is approved by the local superintendent of schools or the
school principal, or their designees.
II. Recording Aendance
A. Students Scheduled for a Full Day - A student is counted present
for a full day if the student is in aendance four hours or more of the
school day. A student is counted present half day if in aendance for at
least two hours of the school day, but less than four hours. A student
is counted as tardy to school if the student is absent less than two and
one half hours in the morning. A student is counted as early dismissal
if the student is absent less than two and one half hours before
dismissal.
B. Late Opening/Early Dismissal of School Due To Inclement Weather
Or Elementary Planning Day - A student is counted present for a full
day if absent no more than 30 minutes of the school day. A student is
counted present for half day if present for at least two hours. A student
is tardy to school if absent less than 30 minutes in the morning. A
student is counted as early dismissal if absent less than 30 minutes
before dismissal.
C. Students Scheduled for a Paral Day - A student scheduled for a
paral day is to be counted present based on the amount of me
he/she is scheduled. Example: A student scheduled for a two-hour
block of me will be counted present for a full day if the student is in
aendance for that enre block of me. If the student is absent for
that enre block of me, the student will be counted absent for a full
day. A student scheduled for a two-hour block of me will be counted
present for one-half day if the student is in aendance for one hour.
cerficate from the parent(s)/guardian(s) of a student reported
connuously absent for illness. Connuously absent means either
a number of consecuve absences or a total absence in excess of
the standard for regular aendance for which, in the principal’s
judgment, medical documentaon is required.
3. Court Summons.
4. Hazardous weather condions- hazardous weather condions
which would endanger the health or safety of the student when in
transit to and from school.
5. Work approved or sponsored by the school, the local school
system, or the State Department of Educaon, accepted by the
local superintendent of schools or the school principal, or his/her
designees, as reason for excusing the students.
6. Observance of a religious holiday- the absence of a student to
parcipate in the observance of a major religious holiday shall
not prevent him or her from achieving a “Perfect Aendance”
cerficate or other appropriate recognion for aendance.
Major tests, field trips, the taking of student pictures, and similar
acvies should not, insofar as possible, be scheduled during
religious holidays.
7. State emergency.
8. Suspension.
9. Lack of authorized transportaon-this shall not include students
denied authorized transportaon for disciplinary reasons.
10. Other emergency set of circumstances which, in the judgment of
the superintendent or designee, constutes a good and sufficient
cause for absence from school.
11. Family Vacaon or Family Trip- a family vacaon or a family trip
during the school year is strongly discouraged as the loss of class
me may have a negave impact on the student’s academic
progress and record. It is also recognized that, on some occasions,
working parents have lile control over the me of the year
when vacaons or trips may be taken. Family vacaon absences
are considered lawful only if they have prior wrien approval
of the principal and do not exceed five days per school year.
Wrien requests must be made at least ten days in advance of
the requested vacaon absence, and aer approval, parents
and students are responsible for requesng assignments. If a
family vaacon or trip is not approved, the parent may follow the
appeals process in Secon VIII. Requests that exceed five days per
year may be approved by the Superintendent’s designee.
III. Recording Absences
A. Lawful Absences
1. Death in the immediate family- the immediate family shall include
parent, siblings, grandparents, a person who is the primary care
provider, or anyone who lives regularly in the household of the
student and others as determined by the school principal.
2. Illness of the student- the principal may require a physician’s
The Harford County Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, naonal origin, religion, sexual orientaon,
or disability in maers affecng employment or in providing access to programs. Inquiries related to the policies of the Board of Educaon of
Harford County should be directed to the Manager of Communicaons, 410-588-5203.
9

B. Unlawful Absence
An absence, including absence for any poron of the day, for any
reason other than those cited as lawful are presumed to be unlawful
and may constute truancy.
Definions
• Truancy - A truant is a student who is absent from school or a
poron thereof without lawful cause.
• Habitual Truant - A student is a habitual truant if he or she is
unlawfully absent from school for a number of days or equivalent
days in excess of six percent of the school days within any marking
period, semester, or year.
Repeated unlawful absences will require a school conference between
the appropriate school personnel and parent(s)/guardian(s) and may
result in a referral to the pupil personnel worker.
Any student who meets or exceeds five days of unlawful absence in a
quarter must be referred to the pupil personnel worker.
C. Tardiness
Any student(s) arriving up to two hours late to school shall be
considered late to school. Two hours or more late would be considered
absent one-half day. Students arriving with less than two hours
remaining in the school day would be considered absent the enre
day. Students leaving school with more than two hours remaining
would be considered absent one-half day.
IV. Standard for Regular Aendance and Acons or Consequences for
Not Meeng the Standard
The standard for regular aendance is the minimal requirement for
student aendance in order to permit connuity in the instruconal
program. The standard includes both lawful and unlawful
absences within a marking period, semester, or school year.
The minimal standard is no more than four total days absence
per quarter.
The acons taken when the standard is not met should reflect a
connuum of consequences for increasing absenteeism. School officials
may waive these acons when they are aware of circumstances beyond
the student’s control such as documented chronic illnesses, etc. In
addion, students who receive services under an IEP or 504 plan may
not necessarily be subject to the consequences for failing to meet the
aendance standard.
A. All Schools
Beginning with the fih absence and/or tardiness, the parent will be
nofied in wring.
Connuing absence and/or tardiness of the student will result in the
iniaon of one or more of the following acons:
1. Conference with the parent, student, and the principal or
designee.
2. Referral to student services team and/or the pupil personnel
worker for appropriate intervenon.
3. Probaonary me period - verbal agreement.
4. Wrien contract.
5. Aer-school detenon.
6. Saturday school (non-teaching day aendance).
7. Removal of school privileges.
8. Restricon of extracurricular acvies.
9. In-school suspension (due process procedures followed).
10. Consideraon of enrollment in the Alternave Educaon Program.
11. Referral to Student Services for possible outside referral to court
for violaon of the compulsory aendance law or to Juvenile
Services for intake services.
B. High Schools
1. Following the second day of unlawful absence in a semester course,
the parent will be nofied in wring of the imminent danger of loss
of the one-half credit for the course. On the fih day of unlawful
absence, the student loses credit for the semester course. Parents
will be nofied in wring of the loss of credit and made aware of the
appeal process.
2. Following the sixth day of unlawful absence in a full-year course, the
parent will be nofied in wring of the imminent danger of loss of the
full one-credit for the course. On the 11th day of unlawful absence, the
student loses credit for the full-year course. Parents will be nofied in
wring of the loss of credit and made aware of the appeal process.
C. Elementary and Middle Schools
Students who have been absent 20 days by the end of the third
quarter must be reviewed for possible retenon during promoon/
non-promoon conferences.
V. Make-up Work Procedures
A. There shall be no make-up work given to students who have been
unlawfully absent.
B. The make-up policy for short term (five days or less) lawful absence
shall be:
• It will be the responsibility of the student/guardian to request
missed assignments.
• Students will be given the number of days equal to the number
of days absent to turn in completed make-up work. Assignments
may be provided when possible in advance of a lawful absence if
requested by parent/guardian at least five days in advance of the
absence and approved by the principal or designee. Submission of
the make-up work provided in advance is required upon the return
of the student to school unless extenuang circumstances have
been documented.
C. The make-up work policy for extended (six days or more) lawful
absence shall require that the parent/guardian request designated
school officials to arrange for make-up work.
• The teacher will provide the required make-up work in a method
chosen by the teacher and will collect and correct the make-up
work. A reasonable me line for the compleon of the work will be
established. It is recommended that this exchange of completed
and newly assigned work be done on a weekly basis.
• The student will be accountable to complete all assigned make-up
work.
10

D. All make-up work will be graded in accordance with the regular
classroom grading policy as long as it is completed within the
established meline.
E. It is the responsibility of the student and the parent/guardian to
iniate the request and obtain work from the teachers and return the
completed work within the allocated meframe.
F. Students permied to enroll in the Alternave Educaon Program as
a result of a long-term suspension do not have the opon to receive
make-up work from the home school.
ATTENDANCE AREAS
The aendance area for each public school in the county is designated
by the Board of Educaon. Students must aend the school in the area
in which they reside. The residence of the student is considered to be
the same as the residence of his/her parent, legally-appointed guardian,
or caretaker. If there are quesons concerning the boundaries of a
school’s aendance area, log on to the HCPS website (www.hcps.org) to
access the “School Locator”/Aendance Area Boundary maps or call the
school system’s Transportaon Office at 410-638-4092.
Boundary Excepons
The Board of Educaon recognizes that circumstances may arise
that cause parents or legal guardians to request permission for a
student to aend a school outside their home aendance area. The
superintendent of schools will develop and implement administrave
guidelines for evaluang boundary excepon and school transfer
requests. To apply for a boundary excepon, please contact your
child’s Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW).
The superintendent of schools shall submit the Administrave
Guidelines for Evaluang Boundary Excepon/School Transfer
Requests along with recommended changes to the Board of Educaon
for review on an annual basis. The review will occur each winter prior
to the March 1st applicaon period for the next school year.
Proof of Residency
When registering for enrollment into any Harford County Public
School, proof that they student is domiciled in Harford County with the
child’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s) is required. Proof of residency must
be updated each me residency changes.
The following are the types of acceptable documentaon for proof of
residency:
• For homeowners – a current monthly ulity bill (cable, non-cellular
phone, or gas and electric) with service address indicated
• For renters - an original current lease (dated within 90 days of
registraon) along with a current monthly ulity bill (see above)
All documents must be originals, dated within three months of
registraon.
Examples of documents that are unacceptable as proof of residency:
• Driver’s License
• Property Tax Bill
• Water Bill
• Cell Phone Bill
Families who do not have a house or apartment of their own, but live
with a relave or friend, are required to submit a notarized Mul-
Family Affidavit as proof of residency for each year the student and
parent are in a shared housing/mul-family living arrangement. Review
of the mul-family/shared living arrangement will be conducted by
the Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW) in your aendance area. Special
documentaon must be on file.
CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT
Definions
1. Child - any person under the age of 18 years.
2. Child abuse - the physical or mental injury of a child by any parent
or other person who has permanent or temporary care or custody
or responsibility for supervision of a child, or by any household or
family member, under circumstances that indicate that the child’s
health or welfare is harmed or at substanal risk of being harmed;
or sexual abuse of a child, whether physical injuries are sustained
or not.
3. Neglect - leaving a child unaended or other failure to give proper
care and aenon to a child by any parent or other person who
has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for
supervision of the child under circumstances that indicate: that the
child’s health or welfare is harmed or placed at substanal risk of
harm; or mental injury to the child or a substanal risk of mental
injury.
4. Sexual abuse - any act that involves sexual molestaon or
exploitaon of a child by a parent or other person who has
permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for
supervision of a child, or by any household or family member.
Sexual abuse includes: incest, rape, or sexual offense in any degree;
sodomy; and unnatural or perverted sexual pracces.
A. The Maryland child abuse and neglect laws mandate that any
person who believes or has reason to believe that a child may have
been abused or neglected must report such reasons both orally and
in wring to the Department of Social Services (DSS) or to a local law
enforcement agency within 48 hours.
B. Educators (teachers, school counselors, or other professional
employees of the school system), as well as volunteers working in
the schools, are required to report the incident to the principal of the
child’s school.
C. Individuals reporng in good faith are immune from any civil liability
or criminal penalty.
FACILITY INFORMATION
Use Of School Facilies
The Board of Educaon of Harford County encourages the use
of Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) facilies by the school
community in accordance with Secon 7-108 of the Educaon Arcle
of the Maryland Annotated Code and the HCPS Use of Public School
Facilies Procedure. Students and parents who are part of a schoolaffiliated
group may be allowed to use HCPS facilies for any curricular
or co-curricular program or acvity that is directly affiliated with the
programs of the school system and under the supervision of a parcular
school within HCPS. School-affiliated groups may be allowed to use
HCPS facilies to sponsor programs or acvies that are directly
affiliated with the school’s educaonal program and sponsored by the
Parent-Teacher-Student Associaon (PTSA), the Harford County Council
of PTSA, and officially recognized employee organizaons. Requests
for school-sponsored acvies must be submied and processed, and
once approved must be conducted, in accordance with Board policy
and the HCPS Use of Facilies Procedure. Local schools must document
the intended use by the school-affiliated group by compleng the Use
11

of Facilies
Form B.
The Use of
Facilies
Form B must
be forwarded
to the Office
of Operaons
prior to the
scheduled
program or
acvity.
Any group
that intends
to use
an HCPS
facility for a non-school related program or acvity that is not
school sponsored or school affiliated must be granted approval
for the intended use by compleng and subming, to the school
administraon, a Use of Facilies Form A.
All facility use by groups, both affiliated or non-affiliated with HCPS,
must adhere to HCPS policy, procedure, rules, and regulaons as they
relate to approval for use, responsibilies during use, requirements
and condions of use, safety and security requirements, as well as
care and condion of facility requirements. The HCPS Use of Facilies
Procedures can be found on the school system website, www.hcps.org.
Integrated Pest Management And Noficaon Of Pescide Use In A
Public School Building And On School Grounds
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a system of controlling pests
that does not depend on automac applicaon of pescides. As
implemented by Harford County Public Schools, pests are monitored
by regular and careful inspecons. Through a system of inspecon,
documentaon, communicaon with building occupants, and evaluaon
of any required acons, an effecve program of pest control is currently
in place.
Priority is given to non-chemical pest management techniques.
However, there will be occasions when pescide applicaon is
necessary. Applicaon will be done in a manner sufficient to minimize
potenal exposure to occupants and the building environment. In
compliance with regulaons as set forth by Maryland Department of
Agriculture, noficaon will be made to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of all
elementary students and staff, and parent(s)/guardian(s) of secondary
students and staff on the school’s noficaon list. If you are the parent/
guardian of a student aending a secondary school or Harford County
Public Schools staff and wish to be nofied of all pescide applicaons,
contact school administraon to request wrien noficaon.
A lisng of those pescides that might be applied in Harford County
Public School buildings or on school grounds can be found on the
website, at www.hcps.org. In addion, noficaon of pescide
applicaons will be provided to parents, guardians and staff members
through the use of the Internet, phone, or e-mail. For those parents,
guardians or staff members that do not have access to the Internet,
phone, or e-mail, or who wish to receive the noficaon via nonelectronic
formats, the school district will provide paper copies of the
pescide list and noces of pescide applicaon.
Informaon about pescides or bait staons that may be used in
school buildings or on school grounds when non-chemical techniques
are exhausted or inappropriate can be obtained through the Facilies
Management Department, 2209 Conowingo Road, Bel Air, MD 21015.
The execuve director of facilies management serves as coordinator
and maintains product labels and material safety data sheets for each
product. Currently, these pescides and bait staons include (by
common name) Amorphous Silica Gel, Borate, Borax, Bromadiolone,
Bromethalon, Carbon, Chlorfenapyr, Cyfluthrin, Cypermethrim, D-Trans
Allethrin, Deltamethrin, Diphacinone, Dimethylamine salt of 2,4 and
Fiprobnil, Glyphosate, Hydramethylon, Hydroprene, Imidacloprid,
Methoprene, s-metochlor, Napthalene, Orthoboric Acid, Oxadizon,
Permethrin, Potassium Salt of Fay Acid, Pyrethrins, Resmethrin,
Sodium Nitrate, and Sulfer. The public can review this informaon by
contacng the program coordinator at 410-638-4088. Copies can be
obtained for the cost of reproducon. A more detailed descripon of
IPM techniques employed by Harford County Public Schools may be
found in the IPM manual located at each school site.
For further informaon regarding Harford County Public Schools IPM
Program contact the execuve director of facilies management at 410-
638-4088.
Noficaon Of AHERA Inspecon & Management Plan Compliance
This noficaon is to inform interested pares such as teachers, school
personnel, and parents about Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response
Act (AHERA) requirements and the acons taken by Harford County
Public Schools to comply with AHERA regulaons. On October 30,
1987, the AHERA regulaons were published in the Federal Register,
pages 41826 to 41898, tled “Asbestos Containing Materials in
Schools.” These regulaons require a building inspecon to find
asbestos containing material (ACM) within each school building and a
management plan for each building. Building Inspecons have been
conducted by an Environmental Protecon Agency accredited Building
Inspector. Management Plans have been wrien by an Environmental
Protecon Agency accredited management planner for each school,
cataloging ACM found by the building inspecon.
Building inspecons and management plans have been completed
for all Harford County Public Schools. These documents have been
submied to the State of Maryland in compliance with AHERA’s May
9, 1989, deadline. The individual building reports include schedules
for periodic surveillance of ACM, re-inspecon to be conducted by an
accredited Environmental Protecon Agency building inspector, and
response acons planned, as well as those already completed. The
first re-inspecon of Harford County Public Schools’ buildings was
completed in 1992; and subsequent re-inspecons were performed in
1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010.
Management plans are available for public review at school
administrave offices. To minimize confusion, and in order for a
representave of the school system to be available, all who wish to
review the reports are requested to make an appointment with school
administrators. Public viewing is at no cost to the individual. Copies of
the various reports are available for a fee based upon the copying costs
of the individual report requested.
Most Harford County schools do have ACM, and all schools that do,
have it idenfied and catalogued in their management plans. Those
materials are monitored by school and facilies staff, and reinspected
every three years by cerfied inspectors. In the event that deterioraon
is noted, or maintenance acon in the area of the materials requires
that the ACM be removed, it is removed only by cerfied contractors,
with monitoring by a separate industrial hygiene contractor. No one
other than cerfied contractors; not school staff, not teachers, not
students, nor parents should EVER take it upon themselves to aempt
to remove known or suspected asbestos containing materials for any
reason.
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Noficaon of Sampling for Lead in Drinking Water
Medical research shows lead to be a toxic metal which can be harmful
to human health even at low exposure levels. As evident by research,
young children, infants, and fetuses are parcularly vulnerable to lead
exposure, at lower exposure limits than adults. The effects are observed
in physiological and behavioral symptoms.
The degree of harm from lead depends upon the total exposure to
lead from all sources, and is cumulave over your lifespan. Children
as well as adults connue to be exposed to lead from a number of
sources, including dust from lead paint and soil, food, and water. For
more informaon on these sources, please contact the County Health
Department at 410-838-1500, or the Maryland Department of the
Environment at 410-537-3000.
In October 1988, Congress passed the Lead Contaminaon Control Act
in order to prevent lead contaminaon of drinking water in schools and
daycare centers. The Act required the Environmental Protecon Agency
(EPA) to publish a list of water coolers that were known to contain lead.
It also required schools and daycare centers to take acons to reduce
lead from other sources of drinking water to no more than 20 parts per
billion.
The Lead and Copper Rule required small water systems to complete
inial monitoring of their drinking water supply by December 31,
1993. Harford County Public Schools has completed the inial tesng
and connue to meet the requirements as issued by the EPA. Those
requirements include corrosion control, source water treatment, and
public educaon for systems that exceed the acon level of 15 parts per
billion (ppb) or 0.015 milligrams per liter (mg/L).
Results from tesng done by Harford County Public Schools are on file
in the administrave offices for the school system, and are available
for inspecon by the public. Regular monitoring of the drinking water
connues. Any quesons may be directed to 410-638-4085.
Noficaon of Rights Under the Protecon of Pupil Rights Act
PPRA provides parents certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys,
collecon and use of informaon for markeng purposes, and certain
physical exams in the public schools. A complete lisng of rights can be
obtained by calling the Communicaons Office at 410-588-5203.
Student Parking Policy
Parking on school property is a privilege afforded to students. Certain
condions are aached to that privilege. Students who fail to comply
with those condions will be denied or subject to loss of parking
privileges. Students will receive noce that vehicles parked on school
property may be subject to search in accordance to applicable search
and seizure laws and regulaons. Harford County Public Schools shall
not assume responsibility for any loss or damage to vehicles or their
contents while they are on school property.
Each high school shall develop and publish parking procedures
governing the condions under which students may be granted
permission to use the parking facilies available on the school grounds.
The local school procedures shall include the following:
A. A general statement indicang that any student who needs to
drive to school and park in the school lot during school hours must
obtain a permit.
B. Rules, Definions, and Procedures for Policy Implementaon
1. Each high school principal annually determines the number
of parking spaces on the school premises which can be made
available to students.
2. Only students with a valid driver’s license may apply for a
parking permit.
3. Students and parents must submit a completed, signed
applicaon form for a student parking permit.
4. Students with outstanding financial obligaons to the school
will not be issued a parking permit.
5. Each high school shall develop priories of needs for the
issuance of parking permits.
6. Each high school will establish campus traffic and parking
rules.
7. Each high school will issue a parking permit for an assigned
parking area. Students will be permied to park only in
assigned parking areas.
8. Parking permits must be displayed at all mes while on school
property.
9. Penales for driving violaons, parking without a permit, or
other school violaons may include suspension or revocaon
of the permit, disciplinary acon, ckeng by the police, and/
or towing at the student’s expense.
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
The State of Maryland has established immunizaon requirements for
all students entering or enrolled in Maryland schools for the 2012-2013
school year.
Requirements to achieve complete immunizaon status include the
following:
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough), (DTaP, DTP)
– four doses vaccine for all students entering pre-Kindergarten
grade. If DT is given in place of DTP or DTaP, a physician
documented medical contraindicaon if required.
• Polio vaccine - three doses for all students less than 18 years of
age or proof of immunity by posive blood test.
• Measles - two doses of measles vaccine received on or aer
student’s first birthday, or proof of immunity by posive blood
test for students entering kindergarten -12th grade. Preschool
students under 60 months of age require one dose of measles;
preschool students 60 months of age or older require two doses
of measles vaccine.
• One dose of rubella vaccine on or aer the student’s first
birthday, or proof of immunity by a posive blood test for
students entering K-12th grade. Preschool students 60 months
or older require two doses of rubella vaccine.
• One dose of mumps vaccine on or aer the student’s first
birthday or proof of immunity through a posive blood test for
students entering Kindergarten -12th grade. Preschool students
60 months of age or older require two doses of mumps vaccine.
• Varicella: one dose required for students under 13 years of age
administered on or aer student’s first birthday; or two doses
required for previously unvaccinated students 13 years of age
and older. History of chicken pox documented by a health care
provider including month and year of disease or a posive blood
test will be accepted as proof in lieu of vaccinaon.
• Hepas B vaccine - three doses or a posive blood test for
students entering Pre Kindergarten—12th grade.
Students enrolled in preschool programs must also:
• Have received one dose of Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV7, PCV 13,
Prevnar) if they are under 60 months of age.
• Have received Haemophilus influenza- type b vaccine (Hib) if they
are under 60 months of age. At least one dose of Hib must be
administered on or aer the first birthday.
• (Upon record review a vaccine dose given less than or equal to
four days before the minimum interval or age may be counted
13

as valid.) Official documentaon is recorded on the Maryland
Immunizaon Cerficate, DHMH 896. This form is available from
the schools. If you have documentaon from another source,
please consult with the school nurse.
PRIVACY RIGHTS OF PARENTS & STUDENTS
The Family Educaonal Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)/
Student Records
Definions:
• Personally Idenfiable Informaon (PII) - data or informaon
including (a) the name of the student, his/her parents, and family
members; (b) address; (c) social security number or student
number; (d) a list of personal characteriscs which would make it
possible to idenfy the student with reasonable certainty; or (e)
other informaon which would make it possible to idenfy the
student with reasonable certainty.
• Student Records - records that are: (a) directly related to a student;
and (b) maintained by Harford County Public Schools or by a party
acng for the Harford County Public Schools.
I. Noficaon of Rights under FERPA for Elementary and Secondary
Schools
The FERPA affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or
older (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s
educaon records. These rights are:
A. The right to inspect and review the student’s educaon records
within 45 days aer the day the school receives a request for
access.
Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal
a wrien request that idenfies the records they wish to inspect.
The school official will make arrangements for access and nofy
the parent or eligible student of the me and place where the
records may be inspected.
B. The right to request the amendment of the student’s educaon
records that the parent or eligible student believes are
inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violaon of the student’s
privacy rights under FERPA.
Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the school to amend
a record should write the school principal, clearly idenfy the
part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should
be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as
requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will nofy
the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right
to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Addional
informaon regarding the hearing procedures will be provided
to the parent or eligible student when nofied of the right to a
hearing.
C. The right to provide wrien consent before the school discloses
personally idenfiable informaon (PII) from the student’s
educaon records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes
disclosure without consent.
One excepon, which permits disclosure without consent,
is disclosure to school officials with legimate educaonal
interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as
an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member
(including health or medical staff and school resource officer)
or a person serving on the school Board. A school official also
may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the school
who performs an instuonal service of funcon for which
the school would otherwise use its own employees and who
is under the direct control of the school with respect to the
use and maintenance of PII from educaon records, such as an
aorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or
student volunteering to serve on an official commiee, such as a
disciplinary or grievance commiee; or a parent, student, or other
volunteer assisng another school official in performing his or her
tasks. A school official has a legimate educaonal interest if the
official needs to review an educaon record in order to fulfill his
or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, the school discloses educaon records without
consent to officials of another school district in which a student
seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is
for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.
D. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of
Educaon concerning alleged failures by the School to comply with
the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office
that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Educaon
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
II. Noce for Disclosure of Directory Informaon
A. FERPA requires that the Harford County Public Schools, with
certain excepons, obtain your wrien consent prior to the
disclosure of personally idenfiable informaon from your child’s
educaon records. However, Harford County Public Schools may
disclose appropriately designated “directory informaon” without
wrien consent, unless you have advised the district to the contrary
in accordance with district procedures. The primary purpose of
directory informaon is to allow Harford County Public Schools to
include this type of informaon from your child’s educaon records
in certain school publicaons. Examples include:
• A playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama producon;
• The annual yearbook;
• Honor roll or other recognion lists;
• Graduaon programs; and
• Sports acvity sheets, such as football, wrestling, showing
weight and height of team members.
B. Directory informaon, which is informaon that is generally not
considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be
disclosed to outside organizaons without a parent’s prior wrien
consent. In addion, two federal laws require local educaonal
agencies receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary
Educaon Act of 1965 to provide military recruiters, upon request,
with the following informaon – names, addresses and telephone
lisngs – unless parents have advised the local school system that
they do not want their student’s informaon disclosed without their
prior wrien consent.
C. If you do not want Harford County Public Schools to disclose
directory informaon from your child’s educaon records without
your prior wrien consent, you must nofy the student’s principal
in wring within 10 school days of public noce or personal receipt
of such noce. Harford County Public Schools has designated the
following informaon as directory informaon:
• Student’s name and grade, but only when it appears on
honor roll or graduaon list or as a member of a schoolapproved
team, club, or other student organizaon or school
publicaon;
• Parcipaon in officially recognized acvies and sports;
• Weight and height of members of athlec teams;
14

• Degrees and awards received;
• Student’s name and photograph as they appear in individual
school or school system publicaons.
RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS
Religion
• Students have the right to pracce their own religious beliefs
provided they neither violate the rights of others nor disrupt or
interfere with school operaons.
• Students have the right to study, examine, discuss, and analyze
religious ideas and instuons just as they might study any other
subject.
• Schools shall neither conduct religious exercises nor encourage or
support any religious beliefs or pracces.
Patrioc Exercises
Schools are to encourage the devoon to their flag and their country by
displaying and properly caring for the American flag on the school site
and in each classroom.
Students shall have the right to parcipate in or observe patrioc
exercises in their schools. They shall not, however, be required to take
part in such exercises nor may they interrupt the parcipaon of other
students in such exercises. Students shall not be penalized in any way
for exercising such rights.
Students have a variety of other rights that are outlined by school board
and addional policies can be found on the school system website,
www.hcps.org.
Dress Code
Students have the responsibility to choose their are and to arrange
their personal appearance in a manner that is safe, healthy, inoffensive,
and not disrupve to the educaonal process. The student dress code
is intended to create and preserve a posive climate for teaching
and learning, reduce the possibility of discipline problems, and
preserve school order and safety. The intenon of the policy is to seek
compliance from students and to avoid disciplinary acon unless there
are repeated offenses or serious aggravang circumstances. Students’
style of dress or grooming must meet the reasonable requirements of
a course or acvity. Accordingly, students are prohibited from wearing
clothing, head wear, jewelry, taoos, sunglasses, bookbags, or other
arcles of personal appearance that:
• Depict profanity, obscenity, the use of weapons, or violence.
• Promote the use of tobacco, drugs, alcohol, or other illegal or
harmful products.
• Contain sexually suggesve messages.
• Unduly expose or reveal skin or undergarments such as tank
tops*, tube tops, haltertops, mesh tops, bare midriff tops,
spaghe straps, pants worn below the hips, short-shorts,
miniskirts, or bedme are.
• Contain language or symbols that offend or demean an
idenfiable person or group or otherwise infringe on the rights
of others in violaon of the Board harassment or discriminaon
policies.
• Cause, or is likely to cause, a substanal or material disrupon to
school acvies or the orderly operaon of the school, including
but not limited to swaskas and gang-related are.
• Contain profane, disrespecul, or discourteous expressions
inconsistent with civil discourse and behavior.
• Endanger health or safety.
*A tank top is a sleeveless garment with wide shoulder straps that
dips well below the neckline. The top is typically “U” or “V” shaped,
exposing a broad area of the shoulder, upper chest, and neck. Tank
top straps are typically two to four inches wide. Tank tops, especially
those with thinner straps, do not sufficiently conceal components of the
undergarments and or body parts.
Excepons under this policy shall be given consideraon in the
following instances:
• When a reasonable accommodaon is made if a student
wears an arcle of dress or other item which is a lawful
exercise of his/her right to freedom of expression or freedom
of religion.
• When a reasonable accommodaon is necessary due to a
documented medical or health reason, but only as authorized
by the school principal.
• When an authorized acvity, such as athlecs or band,
requires different are, but only upon the direcon of the
coach or faculty sponsor of the acvity.
Special Provisions and Restricons
The following examples are provided for guidance in implemenng
the policy and are not intended to list every possible violaon or
circumstance.
Physical Educaon
Proper physical educaon apparel and shoes are to be worn. For
secondary students, the appropriate school physical educaon uniform
should be worn.
• The following jewelry items will not be worn in physical educaon
classes: earrings, bracelets, rings, and necklaces.
• Pierced ear studs are permied to be worn by elementary students
only.
• Jewelry which needs to be removed for physical educaon class
shall be the responsibility of the student.
Clothing
• Clothing worn in such a manner so as to reveal undergarments or
bare skin between the upper chest and mid-thigh is not permied.
• Skirts, dresses, and shorts must be no shorter than the student’s
longest fingerp when the student’s hands are held at his/her side.
• Pants shall be secured at the waist; must not touch or drag on the
ground; must not reveal undergarments or bare skin while sing
or bending; must not have any holes or tears above the knee; the
crotch of the pants shall be no longer than the student’s longest
fingerp when the student’s hands are held at his/her side; and
the boom of the pants must be no wider than the length of the
wearer’s shoes.
Outerwear
• It is a general expectaon that outer garments, including, but not
limited to lightweight jackets, hats, etc. are not to be worn during
the school day. These items are to be stored in lockers.
• Principals will have the discreon to permit students to wear
15

outerwear in the school building when condions are warranted.
Head wear
• Head wear, including, but not limited to, hats, visors, doo rags,
sweatbands, and bandannas, is not to be worn inside school
buildings during the school day.
Jewelry
• Jewelry/body piercings (example: spiked jewelry, chokers, rings,
bracelets) that pose a health or safety hazard or is disrupve to the
orderly process of the school is not permied.
• Chains that could cause injury to others are not permied.
Sunglasses
• Sunglasses are considered inappropriate for inside wear.
• Medical excepons may be considered by the principal.
When a student’s are or personal appearance violates this policy,
the principal or designee shall invesgate and take correcve acons,
including but not limited to the following:
• Requiring the student to remove or change the item;
• Taking reasonable steps to nofy the student’s parents of the
violaon; and
• For repeated violaons, iniang progressive discipline for
insubordinaon as appropriate, which may include suspension
from school.
Are shall be disallowed if, in the judgment of the local school
administrator, such are may negavely impact safety, health, or the
posive climate for teaching and learning in the school.
Principals will have the authority to suspend or waive the restricons
on clothing for social events such as, but not limited to, proms,
homecoming dances or school sponsored acvies aimed at promong
school spirit.
Student Lockers
Where available, lockers will be provided for students to have a
secure repository for books, clothing, school materials, etc. Each
school principal will establish procedures for assigning lockers. School
administrators will take necessary steps to ensure that lockers are in
good working order and that combinaon locks are rounely rotated.
Students shall be personally and solely responsible for the contents,
cleanliness, and condion of the assigned locker. Students will not
be permied to use personal locks on school lockers. Students are
expected to report any case of a broken/unsecured locker or the
immediately to the school main office, physical educaon teacher, or
athlec team coach as appropriate. Harford County Public Schools shall
not assume responsibility for the the, loss, or damage of books or any
personal items in a student locker.
It is the responsibility of all students to cooperate fully with any lawful
invesgaon by authorized persons on school property.
It is the responsibility of students not to enter school property with
dangerous or illegal items or those items that constute violaons of
school policy. A principal, assistant principal, or school security guard
may make a search of the physical plant and its assets including the
lockers of students.
Student Backpack Use
Students are permied to use backpacks or similar items to carry
their schoolbooks, materials, or equipment while traveling to and
from school. However, because of the importance of maintaining a
safe environment in the school, such items must be stored in lockers
or designated areas during the school day. The school principal will
have the authority to make excepons based on medical or health
condions, or disability. Harford County Public Schools shall not assume
responsibility for the the, loss, or damage to a student’s backpack or
similar item, or its contents.
The following condions shall apply:
• Bookbags, backpacks, etc. shall be stored in the student’s
assigned locker or designated area.
• Musical instrument cases shall be stored in the music room or
designated storage areas.
• Athlec bags and gear shall be stored in either the student’s
locker, assigned physical educaon locker, or designated
storage area, as appropriate.
If any student is determined to be in violaon of this policy, the school
administrator will take correcve acon, including, but not limited to
the following:
• Requiring the student to place the item in his/her locker.
• Taking reasonable steps to nofy the parent.
• Iniang progressive disciplinary acon for repeated
violaons or insubordinaon as appropriate, which may
include suspension from school.
Student Search and Seizure
The principal or assistant principal may make a reasonable search
of a student, including the search of a student’s backpack or other
belongings, on the school premises if he or she has a reasonable belief
that the student is in possession of an item, the possession of which is
a criminal offense under the laws of this state or a rule or policy of the
Board of Educaon. This search shall be made in the presence of a third
party.
A principal or assistant principal may make a reasonable search of a
student on the school premises or on a school-sponsored trip if the
searcher has a reasonable belief that the student has in the student’s
possession an item, the possession if which is:
• A criminal offense under the laws of this State; or
• A violaon of:
- Any other state law; or
- A rule or regulaon of the local school Board
• A search authorized above shall be made in the presence of a third
party.
It is a violaon of the Harford County Public School regulaons for a
student to possess either:
- Any illegal item; or
- Any item used to disrupt or interfere with the school
environment.
SAFE SCHOOLS
Drug Detecng Dogs In Secondary Schools
The Board of Educaon of Harford County permits the use of drug
detecng dogs in secondary schools. Drug detecng dogs may be used
in school buildings and on school parking lots during the day when
students are present. Drug detecng dogs may be used randomly or at
the request of the principal based on reasonable suspicion that drugs
might be in the school. Under no circumstances will a drug detecng
dog be used to sniff any individual person. When, in the opinion of the
dog’s handler, a drug detecng dog has alerted on a locker or other
property in the school, a search may be conducted by the principal or
his/her designee. When, in the opinion of the dog’s handler, a drug
detecng dog has alerted on a vehicle, a search may be conducted by a
police officer. Students who are in possession of controlled dangerous
substances and other items that constute a violaon of the policies
of the Board of Educaon will be disciplined in accordance with the
appropriate procedures.
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Emergency Preparedness Planning
Harford County Public Schools, in cooperaon with the Harford County
Division of Emergency Operaons, parcipates in planning for various
types of emergency situaons such as fires, natural disasters, air
polluon, and ulity disrupon. In the event of any type of emergency
that disrupts normal schedules at schools, noficaon will be provided
through the automated phone system, commercial radio and television
staons. See page 3 for the complete list of noficaon procedures.
Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Inmidaon
Bullying, cyberbullying , harassment, or inmidaon are prohibited
and not tolerated by the students, volunteers or employees of Harford
County Public Schools.
If you believe your child has been the vicm of bullying, harassment,
or inmidaon, you are asked to complete a Bullying, Cyberbullying,
Harassment, or Inmidaon Reporng Form and return it to the
principal at the student vicm’s school. The form is available on the
Harford County Public School website, www.hcps.org, or at any school.
Contact the school for addional informaon or assistance.
Prohibion of Gang Related Acvies
Definions
• Gang means any ongoing organizaon, associaon or group of
three or more students, whether formal or informal, having as
one of its primary acvies the commission of criminal acts or
violaons of school discipline policies and having a common
name or common idenfying signs, colors or symbols or having in
common an overt or covert organizaonal or command structure.
• School Sponsored Acvies means any event or funcon
authorized, supervised and controlled by Harford County Public
Schools or the school’s administraon.
Gang acvity means:
1. Solicing, with or without coercion, membership in or affiliaon
with any gang;
2. Painng, wring or otherwise inscribing gang related graffi,
messages, symbols or signs on school property;
3. Engaging in violence, extoron or any other illegal act or other
violaon of school discipline policies in furtherance of criminal
gang acvity;
4. Solicing any person to engage in physical violence against
another person in furtherance of gang acvity;
5. Wearing, possessing, using, distribung, displaying or selling
any clothing, jewelry, emblem, badge, symbol or items which
evidence membership in, idenficaon with or affiliaon with
any gang and/or is representave of any gang;
6. Engaging in any act, either verbal or nonverbal, including
gestures or handshakes which demonstrate membership or
affiliaon in any gang and/or is representave of any gang.
7. Violang the provision of Secon 9-803 of the Criminal Law
Arcle of the Maryland Annotated Code.
If you have any informaon about gang acvity you are asked to report
it to the principal or complete a Gang-Related Incident Reporng Form
and return it to the school principal. The form is available on the school
system website, www.hcps.org, or at any school.
Planning For Incidents At The Peach Boom Power Staon
In the event of an incident at the Peach Boom Atomic Power Staon,
plans have been made to increase the safety of public school students
at schools within 10 miles of Peach Boom. The following home schools
are within the 10 mile radius and could possibly be evacuated to a host
school. The host schools are:
Schools within Ten Miles of Peach Boom Host Schools
Darlington Elementary
Meadowvale Elementary
Dublin Elementary
Churchville Elementary
North Harford Elementary
North Bend Elementary
North Harford Middle
Hickory Elementary
North Harford High
C. Milton Wright High
In the event of an incident at the Peach Boom Atomic Power Staon
which requires the evacuaon of a school, students will be transported
by bus directly to the HOST school. If such evacuaon is ordered,
noficaon will be publicized by radio and television staons, and
through the automated telephone system.
Parents or authorized persons are to meet their children at the assigned
school. Parents are urged not to telephone schools or aempt to make
different arrangements. This will only create confusion. Parents are
requested not to pick up their children at the HOME school, but to meet
their children at the HOST school.
Parents or other persons authorized to pick up a student will be
required to provide idenficaon at the pick-up point and sign a
register prior to the release of a student to their custody.
Portable Communicaon Policy
Portable communicaon devices provide the ability to send and receive
informaon ulizing radio frequencies.
Such devices include, but are not limited to, cell phones, pagers,
personal data assistants (PDA), laptop computers with cellular/phone
capability, and two-way radios.
Instruconal use of wireless communicaon devices in Harford County
Public Schools shall be determined in accordance with the needs of
students as jointly agreed upon by the student’s parent/guardian and
school. The parent and school shall, in accordance with the student’s
individual educaon plan or as jointly established, agree upon the
use of a wireless communicaon device by a student with specific
educaonal concerns or disabilies.
The Board of Educaon prohibits the use of certain wireless
communicaon devices, which in its opinion, have limited or no
educaonal value or their use creates learner distracon and learning
environment disrupon.
In light of this concern, the Board of Educaon prohibits student
possession of pagers on school property at all mes.
The Board of Educaon permits high school students to possess cell
phones during the regular school day (as noted below); however,
students are prohibited from using cell phones during the regular
school day for any reason. Student possession of cell phones shall
conform to the following restricons:
• Students shall not use cell phones or otherwise be capable of
17

eceiving an acvaon signal at any me while riding any form
of Harford County Public Schools provided transportaon.
• During the course of the regular school day for students, cell
phones shall not be used to transmit or receive calls and shall
be turned off or rendered incapable of acvaon.
Students enrolled in high schools only may possess Portable
Communicaon Devices (PCD) on school grounds and buses during the
regular school day provided:
• the student keeps and maintains the PCD so it cannot be seen
by others;
• the student does not use or acvate the PCD in any fashion.
Students enrolled in high schools only may use a PCD on school grounds
(but not on buses) before the regular school day and aer the regular
school day.
Students who violate the above restricons shall be deemed to have
created a disrupon to the instruconal environment and be subject to
appropriate disciplinary acon.
Nondiscriminatory Pracces
The Board is commied to providing an environment that is safe
and opmal for academic achievement and producve work acvity
and free from any form of unlawful discriminaon. Any act of
discriminaon, as defined herein, commied by a member of the school
community is a violaon of this policy. Harford County Public Schools
will invesgate all complaints of discriminaon and/or harassment and
will take appropriate disciplinary or other acon against any member
of the school community who is found to have commied any act of
discriminaon as defined herein.
Personal Property
Personal property that is brought into the school by students is not
covered under the insurance of Harford County Public Schools. Please
contact your homeowner’s insurance company regarding any valuable
items, such as musical instruments, for off-premise coverage. Students/
parents should evaluate the personal items that are brought to school.
Also, students should take the me to permanently mark personal
items so they are clearly idenfiable. Personal computers are not
permied in schools.
Student Accident Insurance Program
Harford County Public Schools insurance does not cover student injuries
due to accidents at school or during school-sponsored acvies such as
physical educaon, aer school sports, and field trips. At the beginning
of each school year, Harford County Public Schools provides parents
with informaon on a voluntary accident insurance program. For
students who are not covered by a family health or accident insurance
plan or for families who wish to supplement their exisng coverage,
parents should consider this student accident insurance which:
• Is available to parents or guardians of all Harford County Public
Schools students;
• Provides low-cost accident insurance for students; and
• Is available either on a full year, 24-hour basis, school me only,
for football coverage and extended dental coverage.
You may obtain informaon and enroll online at
www.studennsurance-kk.com. If you have any quesons, contact the
Risk Management Office at 410-588-5286.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
The Special Educaon program is designed to provide support to
students with educaonal disabilies, so that they are successful in
aaining the outcomes of the general curriculum. For students with
intensive needs, alternave plans are developed to help them achieve
life skills and goals that are defined through the Individual Educaon
Program (IEP) process.
Special Educaon services for students with disabilies are based
on students’ IEPs and are designed to complement the general
educaon curriculum. The alignment of IEP goals and benchmarks
with the general educaon content standards supports the students’
parcipaon in the Maryland State Assessment program. The IEP guides
the implementaon of modificaons and accommodaons ulized to
enable the students to access the general educaon curriculum. The
IEPs for students with more intensive needs support parcipaon in the
Alternave Maryland State Assessment program.
Services are available for all students ages birth through 21, as
appropriate. There is a full connuum of services to meet the needs
of students with educaonal disabilies in the least restricve
environment. These services are provided in all the community schools.
The needs of students with significant medical and educaonal needs
may be met at John Archer School or in other educaonal placements.
Infants and toddlers ages birth to three can access a variety of services
to meet their individual needs through the Harford County Infants and
Toddlers Program in conjuncon with the Early Childhood Programming
opons.
Harford County Public Schools operates regional programs for children
with special needs. The children aend programs with instrucon
provided by special educators to address communicaon and/
or other areas idenfied on the IEP. Harford County Public Schools
provides inerant services including but not limited to: speech/
language therapy, occupaonal therapy, physical therapy, hearing and
vision services, community-based instrucon, work experience, and
assisve technology. All services are provided in accordance with the
students’ IEPs to assist the student to benefit from specially designed
instruconal programs.
“Child Find”- a Search for Children in Need of Special Educaon
Services
“Child Find” is the name given to the Harford County Public Schools’
campaign to locate children who are in need of special educaon.
This special project is designed to idenfy all children from birth
through the age of 20 who have special educaon needs and to provide
them with special educaon and related services. Children’s needs are
idenfied through a variety of evaluaon procedures.
If you know of any child from birth through age 20 who may be in need
of special educaon services, call 410-638-4386 and ask for the “Child
Find” contact.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
I. Definions
• In-school suspension means the exclusion within the school
building of a student from the student’s regular educaon program
for up to but not more than, ten school days for disciplinary
reasons by the school principal.
• Short-term suspension means the removal of a student from
school for up to but not more than ten school days for disciplinary
reasons by the principal.
• Extended suspension means the temporary exclusion of a student
from school for a specified period of me longer than 10 school
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days by the superintendent of schools or his/her designee.
Depending on the length of the suspension, the student will
either be permied to make up work lost during the suspension
period or, in the case of secondary students, be required to enroll
in and sasfactorily complete the Harford County Public Schools’
Alternave Educaon Program. A suspension late in the school
year, if of significant length, may be extended to the next school
year.
• Expulsion means, at a minimum, the removal of the student from
the student’s regular school program for an indefinite period of
me during which no educaon services are provided. Students
who are expelled do have the right to seek reinstatement.
• School-sponsored event includes all intraschool and interschool
student acvies which are a part of the school’s overall program,
and are under the supervision and control of school authories.
These acvies include but are not limited to the following:
field trips; athlec, music, and theatrical events; club meengs;
intramurals, student exchange programs; conferences; dances;
class trips; and all other acvies under the general supervision
and control of school authories.
• Verbal or physical threat means either verbal or physical conduct
which places a school employee in reasonable fear of a physical
aack as defined below whether or not such physical aack occurs.
• Physical aack means an intenonal harmful or offensive physical
touching of a school employee or touching, whether intenonal or
unintenonal, of a school employee who is intervening in a fight or
other disrupve acvity.
• Dangerous weapons shall include, but are not limited to, the
following: any firearm of any kind, whether loaded or unloaded,
operable or inoperable, including any object which is a look-alike of
a firearm, even though incapable of operaon; knives of any kind
(including, but not limited to, a switchblade knife, a star knife, a
dirk knife, a hunng knife); a straight razor; a spiked glove, spiked
wristband, or spiked ring; metal knuckles; nunchaku; explosive
devices; chemical mace; tear gas; or pepper spray.
• Arson/fire means to set, aempt or aid to set fire to or burn a
school building or other school property.
II. General Procedures
A. The Board of Educaon has established the following policies
and procedures to govern (1) verbal or physical threat and/or
physical aack on staff; (2) dangerous weapons; (3) arson/fire; (4)
controlled dangerous substances, medicines, alcohol, and inhalants
or other intoxicants; (5) wireless communicaon devices; (6)
tobacco products; (7) sexual harassment; and (8) other maers of
student behavior which will apply to all students in every school.
These policies and procedures are in effect while students are on
any property of the Harford County Public Schools or while they are
parcipang in any school-sponsored event or acvity.
B. In addion to these policies, the school principal has the right
and authority to discipline students including suspension and
referral to the superintendent of schools for further acon for other
behaviors including but not limited to physical aack on a student,
verbal or physical threat to a student, fighng, extoron, bullying,
sexual assault, sexual acvity, false alarms/bomb threats, explosives,
disrespect, insubordinaon, harassment, classroom disrupon,
incing or parcipang in a disturbance, academic dishonesty/
cheang, the, trespassing, unauthorized sale or distribuon,
vandalism/destrucon of property, and refusal to obey school rules.
Students who commit aendance related violaons are subject to
school-based disciplinary consequences, but may not receive out-ofschool
suspension.
C. The superintendent may deny aendance to any student who is
currently expelled from another school system for a length of me
equal to that expulsion. Also, informaon relang to the discipline of
a student, including informaon on an expulsion of a student, will be
forwarded to another school system upon request.
III. Behavior Which Has Taken Place Off School Property
A. Students may be disciplined, including suspension or expulsion,
for behavior which has taken place off school property and/
or beyond the school day. If the behavior is determined by the
principal to impact the educaonal environment of the school,
the safety and/or welfare of other students and/or staff, and/or
the maintenance of school order and discipline, the principal may
suspend the student for up to 10 school days. If the nature and
severity of the off-school property behavior warrants it, the principal
may refer the student to the office of the superintendent of schools
with the recommendaon for further disciplinary acon. If the
superintendent concurs with the findings of the principal, a longterm
suspension/expulsion may be imposed.
B. Behavior which has taken place off school property and/or
beyond the school day for which a student may be subject to school
disciplinary procedures includes, but is not limited to: comming or
aempng to commit murder, rape, assault with a deadly weapon,
a serious assault, robbery, threat or extoron, arson, distribuon
and/or sale of controlled dangerous substances or alcohol, other
criminal acons, or other acons which could be subject to criminal
prosecuon by law enforcement or juvenile authories whether or
not prosecuon has or does take place.
IV. Restuon
If a student is determined to have violated these discipline policies
or a school regulaon and in the course of that violaon damaged
or destroyed school property or the property of another on school
property, the principal shall require the student or the student’s
parent to make restuon. The restuon may not exceed $2,500.
The principal may assign the student to a school work project if the
principal determines that this is an appropriate means to provide
restuon for all or a part of the damage to property.
V. Student Possession, Use, or Transference of Controlled Dangerous
Substances, Medicines, and Alcohol
The Board of Educaon of Harford County is commied to promong
and providing a drug-free academic environment for all students and
providing appropriate safeguards with respect to the administraon
of prescripon medicaon and over-the-counter products, and
believes that collaboraon with parents and the larger community is
essenal to achieving a drug-free environment. School system efforts
to deter the use of alcohol and other drugs by students will include a
comprehensive program designed to inform students of the negave
effects of alcohol and other drug use, to provide parents referral
informaon on evaluaon and treatment services related to student
use of alcohol and other drugs, as well as appropriate consequences
for students who violate this policy.
A. Definions
• Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) - controlled dangerous
substances include, but are not limited to, the substances listed
in Title 5 of the Criminal Law Arcle. In addion, substances
include medicine not registered with the school nurse, which
are intended, implied, or are thought to produce the same or
similar effects as substances listed in Title 5 are also regarded as
controlled dangerous substances.
• Medicine - any preparaon used in treang disease or illness.
This includes prescripon and over-the-counter drugs.
• Inhalant or Other Intoxicant - any compound or substance (such
19

as glue and solvents) which may cause a loss of self-control or
inebriaon.
• Material Evidence – CDS, alcohol, inhalants or other intoxicants,
substances misrepresented to be drugs or alcohol, medicine not
registered with the school nurse, and/or paraphernalia used in
taking controlled dangerous substances.
• Paraphernalia – items which are commonly used for the purpose
of the ingeson of drugs. Typical paraphernalia would include
but are not limited to pipes for the smoking of marijuana,
manufactured paper, homemade clips or wire-formed devices
used for holding marijuana “roaches,” gelan capsules,
measuring spoons, scales, strainers, and other items as defined
by law.
• Substance Misrepresented - a substance which a student leads
others to believe is a controlled dangerous substance, or thinks
to be a controlled dangerous substance, implies is a controlled
dangerous substance or will produce the effects of a controlled
dangerous substance.
• Transference - to pass to another person or to make reasonably
available to another person a controlled dangerous substance
or medicine or alcohol or paraphernalia or a substance
misrepresented.
B. Over - the - Counter and Prescripon Medicaons
Students are not permied to possess or use prescribed or overthe-counter
medicaon on school buses or on school property.
All medicaon must be properly registered, stored with, and
administered by designated school personnel. Excepons to this
arcle, with supporng documentaon from the student’s physician,
may be granted by the director of student services or his/her
designee. Violaon of this rule will result in disciplinary acon to the
student, with a parent conference available immediately to clarify this
policy.
A second violaon will result in a 10 school-day suspension of the
student by the principal and a referral to the superintendent of
schools with a recommendaon for further disciplinary acon.
C. Suspected impairment
Students who are suspected to be under the influence of a
prescripon or over the counter drug, controlled dangerous
substance, alcohol, or an inhalant or other intoxicant will be referred
to the principal of the school. If the invesgaon of the maer yields
no material evidence, but if the principal has reasonable cause to
suspect that the student is impaired the principal will contact the
student’s parents/guardians and a mandatory conference will be
held. The superintendent of schools will be advised in wring of the
incident and of the results of the parent conference.
VI. Offenses subject to referral
Students shall receive a ten day suspension and referral to the
superintendent of schools with the recommendaon for further
disciplinary acon for certain offenses/violaons including but not
limited to the following:
A. Possession of, using, or under the influence of a controlled
dangerous substance, alcohol, an inhalant or other intoxicant, or to
be in possession of paraphernalia or a substance misrepresented to
be a controlled dangerous substance or alcohol.
If the parent(s)/guardian(s) and the student agree to parcipate in
a substance abuse evaluaon at the Harford County Mental Health
and Addicons/Adolescent Addicon Services and agree to follow
the recommendaons for treatment made as part of that evaluaon,
at no cost to the Harford County Public Schools, the superintendent
of schools will reduce the length of the suspension which would
otherwise be imposed. This opon is for a first offense only and will
not be offered for transference or a second offense of the CDS and
alcohol policies. Further, this opon is conngent upon the connuing
availability of funding to the Harford County Mental Health and
Addicons/Adolescent Addicon Services to enable that agency to
provide this service.
B. Transference of a controlled dangerous substance, medicine,
alcohol, an inhalant or other intoxicant, or paraphernalia, or
substance misrepresented to be a controlled dangerous substance,
medicine, alcohol, an inhalant or other intoxicant or paraphernalia.
C. Verbal or Physical Threat and/or Physical Aack on Staff
D. Dangerous Weapons
Possession or using an object which reasonably could cause
physical harm or injury to a person, or an object which is
represented to be and a reasonable person would conclude was
a dangerous weapon, and for which there is no reasonable or
legimate cause for the student to possess or use on the property
of Harford County Public Schools or at a school-sponsored acvity.
Further, in compliance with the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 and
Secon 7-305 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, a student who
has been determined by the superintendent of schools to have
brought a firearm onto school property may be expelled for a
minimum of 365 consecuve days. The Superintendent of Schools
may specify, on a case-by-case basis, a shorter period of expulsion
for a student who has brought a firearm onto school property. Any
student expelled under the provisions of the Gun-free Schools Act
of 1994 will not be permied to enroll in the Alternave Educaon
Program. Students served under an IEP or 504 plan may not be
subject to this provision.
E. Arson/Fire
Aempng to, aiding in, or seng fire to a building or other school
property.
STUDENTPARENT SURVEY TO IDENTIFY FEDERALLY
CONNECTED STUDENTS
Each year, Harford County Public Schools seeks informaon from
parents which is important to the system in its long-range planning
and its applicaon for federal financial assistance. This informaon is
requested on a form known as the student-parent survey form.
What kind of informaon is needed?
The survey form, which your student brings home in October of
each year, includes quesons about the locaon of your residence,
the number of children of school age in your home, your place of
employment, the name of your employer, and your work locaon.
Why is this informaon needed?
This informaon enables the school system to predict student yields
from the various types of residences in the county. These data are
important for planning future school building needs. Also, the place
of your employment and work locaon are needed to determine how
many persons are connected with the federal government. Each year
the school system is entled to an appropriaon of funds based on the
number of federally-connected children in the school system. These
funds are made available through Public Law 874, “Impact Aid.”
What is Impact Aid?
The presence of federal installaons in Harford County brings addional
children to the community for which the public schools must provide
educaonal programs. Since federal properes are exempt from local
property taxaon, the federal government provides funds which
parally pay for the educaon of these addional students. The
amount of funds received is based on the results of the survey and the
20

aendance of those students idenfied as “federally connected.”
TRANSPORTATION
School bus transportaon is provided for Harford County public
elementary school students who live more than one mile from their
school and for public secondary school students who live more than
one and one half miles from their school.
Excepons to this distance requirement may be made for students with
disabilies and where exceponal or hazardous walking condions
exist. Inquiries concerning these
excepons should be directed
to the Transportaon Office at
410-638-4092.
School bus transportaon will be
withdrawn from a student who
is excluded from the classroom
as a result of a condion that
presents a clear and direct
health risk to others. (Examples: head lice, measles, fever and voming
in school, etc.)
Transportaon Rules For Students
The following transportaon rules apply to all students riding school
buses to and from Harford County Public Schools. In addion, all other
policies adopted by the Board of Educaon regarding student behavior
on school property will be enforced on Harford County Public Schools’
buses.
1. Students must follow direcons from the driver the first me they
are given. The driver shall be in full charge of the school bus and
the students, except in the presence of a teacher/administrator,
who shall then be in charge of the students.
2. Insubordinaon or disrespect to the driver or aendant will not
be tolerated.
3. Students will sit in the seats, which have been assigned to them
by the driver, the principal, or their designee. Students must
remain in their seats at all mes when the bus is in moon.
Changing seats any me during the run is prohibited.
4. Students may converse in a normal manner; but loud, profane, or
obscene language or gestures will not be permied
5. With the excepon of their books, bookbags, and school
equipment, such as musical instruments or gym bags, students
may not transport other items on the bus without the permission
of the driver. Books, bookbags, and other school equipment
should be held by the student. No books or other objects are to
be placed in the bus aisle. Books and other school equipment
must be of a size that can be controlled in the seat by the
student.
6. Students must not extend any part of their bodies through bus
windows. Students must face forward at all mes and keep their
arms and legs out of the aisle. Sping or tossing objects on or out
of the bus is prohibited.
7. Students must not aempt to board or to get off the bus while it
is in moon.
8. Students should cooperate in keeping the bus clean and must not
damage it. Any malicious or willful damage to a school bus will
result in the immediate withdrawal of transportaon services for
the students involved, unl the cost of repairing the bus has been
sasfactorily seled.
9. Students may not eat, drink, or chew gum on the bus.
10. Students may not play electronic devices on the bus unless
approved by the driver.
11. Students suspended from the school may not ride the bus while
they are on suspension.
12. Students may not leave the bus on the way to or from school
without the permission of the driver. The driver will not give
permission except in case of personal emergency on the part of
the student, or upon wrien request from the principal.
13. Students are permied to ride only the bus to which they are
assigned, ulizing their designated bus stop, which serves the
area in which they live. Requests from parents for the students
to ride other buses in an emergency may be considered by school
officials.
14. Students must be at the bus stop at least five minutes before the
scheduled arrival me of the bus.
15. No glass items or live animals (except those assisng the
handicapped) are to be transported on buses.
16. Students shall not use cell phones or otherwise be capable of
receiving an acvaon signal at anyme while riding any form of
transportaon provided by Harford County Public Schools.
17. Students violang the transportaon rules will be reported to the
principal or the assistant principal and transportaon services
may be restricted or withdrawn.
Transportaon Discipline Procedures
Students who are assigned to ride Harford County Public Schools buses
must assume certain responsibilies. Misconduct, carelessness, and
thoughtlessness are hazardous to the safe operaon of the school bus.
The bus is an integral part of the total school program; and the driver,
who is an adult in a posion of authority, must insist on appropriate
behavior.
Each student will receive a copy of the “Transportaon Rules for
Students.” These rules will be reviewed and interpreted for the students
on an annual basis by school personnel. Violaon of these rules will
be reported to the school principal. When a principal is advised of a
violaon of the “Transportaon Rules for Students” and where the
principal determines, as a result of their invesgaon, that a violaon
of the “Transportaon Rules for Students” has occurred, the following
opons shall be ulized by the principal:
REFERRAL 1 - Mandatory parent contact and, if appropriate, withdrawal
of transportaon services for not less than five school days or not less
than 20 school days or not less than 90 school days.
REFERRAL 2 - Mandatory parent contact and, if appropriate, withdrawal
of transportaon services for not less than five school days and, if
appropriate, for not less than 20 school days or not less than 90 school
days.
REFERRAL 3 - Mandatory parent contact and, if appropriate, withdrawal
of transportaon services for not less than 20 school days and, if
appropriate, for not less than 90 school days.
REFERRAL 4 - Mandatory parent contact and, if appropriate, withdrawal
of transportaon services for not less than 90 school days.
Withdrawal of transportaon services for a day shall be defined as a day
that school is in session.
Students and their parents should be aware that misbehavior on school
buses may also have other serious consequences. Specifically, violaon
of the “Transportaon Rules for Students” may result in a suspension
from school. Furthermore, any act by a student, which contributes to a
school bus accident, will be reported to the police officer invesgang
the incident.
Parental Transportaon
Parents who choose to drop their child off at the school are responsible
for the safety of their child unl the school is open for students. Parents
who are not aware of the me that students are allowed to enter the
school must contact their respecve school directly for the informaon.
The school will share normal opening mes as well as late opening
mes with the parent.
21

Transportaon Responsibilies of Parents
Each parent has a definite role in the safe and efficient operaon
of a school’s transportaon system. If the transportaon program,
as a whole, is to funcon effecvely, the parents must assume their
responsibilies to the program and extend cooperaon and support to
the people charged with its operaon.
Parents should be aware that the privilege to ride a school bus may be
temporarily or permanently revoked if the “Transportaon Rules for
Students” are violated.
Parents are responsible for the safety of their children from the me
they leave home in the morning unl the me they board the school
bus and, at the end of the school day, from the me the school bus
departs the bus stop and the children reach home. During the midday,
adult supervision is required for pre-K students’ bus dismissal. Once the
child enters the school bus, the responsibility lies with the bus driver
and the school administraon. In order to ensure the safe and efficient
operaon of the student transportaon program, parents must also
accept the responsibilies to:
1. Cooperate with the school authories and the school bus driver in
promong safe and efficient services for all passengers.
2. Insist upon good behavior on the part of their children while riding
the school bus.
3. Insist that their children occupy the seats, which have been
assigned to them.
4. Instruct their children as to their responsibility for damages caused
to the property of others, including the school bus.
5. Inform their children that they should arrive at the designated
school bus stop five minutes before the scheduled arrival me of
the school bus.
6. Make suggesons to the school principal or to the director of
transportaon for improvements in the transportaon program.
7. Walk with younger children to and from the school bus stop, using
this opportunity to teach the children proper pedestrian pracces.
If the parents cannot accompany their children, arrangements
should be made, if possible, for older children (brothers, sisters, or
neighbors) to escort the younger children to and from the school
bus stop or school.
8. Encourage their children to obey all traffic rules, signs, and signals.
9. Set an example for their children by their own safety pracces.
10. Understand that unauthorized persons, including parents, are not
allowed to board the school bus under any circumstances.
Magnet Program and Alternave Educaon Transportaon Guidelines
A consolidated stop system for school bus transportaon is ulized for
all students aending Harford County Public Schools Magnet Programs
and Alternave Educaon
• Parents are responsible for the safety of the student from the me
they leave home in the morning unl the me they board the
school bus, and at the end of the school day, from the me the
school bus departs the bus stop and the student reaches home.
• Students who live within walking distance of their neighborhood
elementary, middle or high school meet their bus at the local
school.
• Stops for developments are located at the entrance of the
development.
• Magnet and Alternave Educaon students are required to be at
their bus stop 10 minutes prior to the stated pick-up me.
• The school needs to have the student’s current address and
phone number. Changes cannot be given to the Transportaon
Department or bus driver by the parent, student, or guardian.
• Students not ulizing morning bus service for a period of 10
consecuve school days will be dropped from the morning bus
route to provide the shortest ride me for students who are
ulizing bus service.
• Students not ulizing aernoon bus service for a period of 10
consecuve school days will be dropped from the aernoon bus
route to provide the shortest ride me for students who are
ulizing bus service.
• Parents are responsible for contacng the school to restart bus
service, once a student has been dropped from the bus route due
to lack of use.
• Students are permied only to ride the bus they are assigned,
ulizing their designated bus stop.
• On inclement weather days (even when schools are on me) buses
may be delayed.
TITLE IX COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
Title IX of the Educaonal Amendments of 1972 states in part:
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded
from parcipaon in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discriminaon under any educaonal program or acvity receiving
Federal financial assistance.”
In accordance with the regulaons of Title IX, the Board of Educaon of
Harford County has adopted Title IX complaint procedures for students,
parents, and employees. The purpose of the procedures is to secure
equitable soluons to problems deriving from the implementaon of
Title IX and other laws dealing with sex discriminaon.
A. Complaints alleging discriminaon on the basis of sex shall be
submied to the Title IX coordinator in accordance with Harford
County Public Schools administrave procedures relang to Title IX
complaints.
B. A complainant shall file a complaint within 90 days of the date the
alleged act of disability discriminaon occurred.
C. The Title IX coordinator shall aempt to informally resolve a
complaint within 30 days of the receipt of same.
D. If an informal resoluon cannot be reached, the Title IX
coordinator shall issue a wrien decision seng forth in concise
fashion his/her decision regarding the complaint and the reasons
for the decision. Such wrien decision shall be issued within 60
days of receipt of the complaint.
E. All decisions of the Title IX coordinator may be appealed to the
superintendent pursuant to Secon 4-205 of the Educaon Arcle
of the Maryland Annotated Code.
F. The complaint procedure described herein is in addion to any
other administrave or judicial acon the complainant may pursue.
For quesons, contact the director of community engagement, equity
and cultural proficiency, 410-809-6065, who also serves as the Title IX
Coordinator for Harford County Public Schools.
WELLNESS POLICY
The Board of Educaon is commied to maintaining school
environments that promote and protect student health by providing
appropriate nutrion educaon, physical educaon, a variety of healthy
food and beverages. The Wellness Policy is available online.
22

PHONE DIRECTORY
Has your child encountered a problem at his/her school? First, call the teacher and/or principal. If the problem remains
unresolved, or, if you have other quesons, listed below are important phone numbers.
Harford County Public Schools Central Office: 410-838-7300 (local) * 1-866-588-4963 (Toll Free)
7-1-1 TTY for Hearing Impaired
Aberdeen Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-273-5510
Aberdeen High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-273-5500
Abingdon Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-638-3910
Alternave Educaon Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-273-5594
Bakerfield Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . .410-273-5518
Bel Air Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-4160
Bel Air Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-4140
Bel Air High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-4600
C. Milton Wright High School . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-4110
Church Creek Elementary School . . . . . . . . . 410-273-5550
Churchville Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . 410-638-3800
Darlington Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-3700
Deerfield Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-612-1535
Dublin Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..410-638-3703
Edgewood Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . .410-612-1540
Edgewood Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-612-1518
Edgewood High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-612-1500
Emmorton Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-3920
Fallston Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-4129
Fallston High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-638-4120
Forest Hill Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-638-4166
Forest Lakes Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . 410-638-4262
Fountain Green Elementary School . . . . . . . .410-638-4220
George D. Lisby Elementary School . . . . . . . 410-273-5530
Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary School . . . . . 410-273-5524
Harford Glen Outdoor Educaon Center . . . 410-638-3903
Harford Technical High School . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-3804
Havre de Grace Elementary School . . . . . . . .410-939-6616
Havre de Grace Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . 410-939-6608
Havre de Grace High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-939-6600
Hickory Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-4170
Homestead/Wakefield Elementary School . .410-638-4175
Human Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 410-588-5238
Jarresville Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . .410-692-7800
John Archer School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-638-3810
Joppatowne Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . 410-612-1546
Joppatowne High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-612-1510
Magnolia Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-612-1553
Magnolia Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-612-1525
Meadowvale Elementary School . . . . . . . . . 410-939-6622
Norrisville Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-692-7810
North Bend Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . .410-692-7815
North Harford Elementary School . . . . . . . . .410-638-3670
North Harford Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-638-3658
North Harford High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-3650
Office of Elementary School Performance. . . 410-588-5207
Office of Middle School Performance. . . . . . 410-588-5228
Office of High School Performance. . . . . . . . 410-588-5228
Paerson Mill Middle/High School . . . . . . . . 410-638-4640
Prospect Mill Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-3817
Psychological Services, Student Services . . . 410-588-5334
Aberdeen Office 410-273-5514
Bel Air Office 410-638-4143
Edgewood Office 410-612-1521
Fallston Office 410-638-4124
Havre de Grace Office 410-939-6612
Magnolia Office 410-612-1531
North Harford Office 410-638-3662
Paerson Mill Office 410-638-4215
Southampton Office 410-638-4153
Hickory Elem. (Child Find) 410-638-4386
Red Pump Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-4252
Ring Factory Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . 410-638-4186
Riverside Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-612-1560
Roye-Williams Elementary School . . . . . . . .. 410-273-5536
Safety & Security Department . . . . . . . .. 410-638-4242
Special Educaon Department. . . . . . . . . . . .410-588-5246
Southampton Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-4150
Transportaon Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-638-4092
William Paca Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . .410-612-2033
Old Post Road Elementary School . . . . . . . . .410-612-1566
William S. James Elementary School . . . . . . .410-638-3900
Youth’s Benefit Elementary School . . . . . . . . 410-638-4190
Volunteer Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Your local school
Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-422-0009
23

2012
Kamden Punte * Grade K * William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary
notes
www.hcps.org

2012
August 1-31: Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
July 2012
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
September 2012
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
19 20
New Teachers
on Duty
21
New Teachers
on Duty
22
All Teachers
on Duty
23
All Teachers
on Duty
24
All Teachers
on Duty
25
First Quarter/ First
Semester Begins
26 27 28 29 30 31
Opening of
Schools for
Students
K-12
(Kindergarten will
follow gradual entrance
schedule)
Opening of
Schools
for Pre-K
Students
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
Aug. 1: Fast in Honor of Holy Mother of Jesus (Orthodox Chrisan); Lammas (Chrisan)
Aug. 6: Transfiguraon of the Lord (Orthodox Chrisan)
Aug. 14: Lailat al Kadr* (Islam)
Aug. 15: Assumpon of Virgin Mary (Catholic Chrisan); Dormion of the Theotokos (Orthodox Chrisan)
Aug. 19-21: Eid al Fitr* (Islam)
Aug. 29: Beheading of John the Bapst (Chrisan)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.
g

2012
Nathan Chica * Grade 9 * Fallston High School
notes
www.hcps.org

2012
September 1-30: Library Card Sign-Up Month
September 15 - October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
August 2012 October 2012
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 5 6
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
# LABOR DAY
Schools
& Offices
CLOSED
9 Grandparents’ Day
10 11
Patriot Day
12 13 14 15
Internaonal
Literacy Day
Administraon
of the
American College
Test (ACT)
Mexican
Independence
Day
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
Elementary Early
Dismissal: students
dismissed
2 1/2 hours early
16
Mayflower Day
Internaonal
17 18 19 20 21 22
Day of Peace
First Day of
Autumn
# Rosh Hashanah
Schools CLOSED
Magnet Program Video &
Informaonal Presentaon
NHHS 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
# Yom Kippur
Schools CLOSED
Magnet Program Video &
Informaonal Presentaon
ABHS 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
30
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
Sept. 1: Ecclesiascal Year begins (Orthodox Chrisan)
Sept. 8: Navity of Mary (Chrisan)
Sept. 14: Elevaon of the Life Giving Cross - Holy Cross Day (Chrisan)
Sept. 17-18: Rosh Hashanah* (Judaism)
Sept. 22: Equinox; Mabon (Wicca, Northern Hemisphere); Ostara (Wicca, Southern Hemisphere)
Sept. 26: Yom Kippur* (Judaism)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.

2012
Jade McDonnell * Grade 12 * Havre de Grace High School
notes
www.hcps.org

2012
October 1-31: Crime Prevenon Month, Czech Heritage Month, Italian American Heritage & Culture Month, Polish American Heritage Month
SUNDAY TUESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Child Health Day
Video &
1 2 3 4 5 6
High School
Assessment -
Algebra
High School
Assessment -
English
High School
Assessment -
Biology
High School
Assessment -
Make-up for all
subjects
Naonal Metric Columbus Day/
7 Week (7-13) 8 9 10 11 12 13
Discoverers’ Day
Magnet Program
Informaonal
Presentaon HTHS
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Administraon
of the Scholasc
Assessment Test
(SAT)
Fire Prevenon
Week (7-13)
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
Magnet Program Video &
Informaonal Presentaon
EDHS 6:30-8:30 p.m.
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Naonal
Naonal School Lunch
Week (15 - 19)
Naonal School
United Naons
21
Character
Red Ribbon
22 Bus Safety
23 24 25 26 27
Counts Week
(21-27)
Week (22 -26)
Week (23-31)
Day
Elementary Early
Dismissal: students
dismissed
2 1/2 hours early
# MD STATE
EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION
CONVENTION
Schools CLOSED
Administraon of
the Preliminary
Scholasc
Assessment Test
(PSAT)
Make a
Difference
Day
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
28 29 30 31
Natural Resources &
Agricultural Sciences at NHHS
Open House 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
September 2012
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
Administraon
of the
American College
Test (ACT)
November 2012
S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
Oct. 4: Saint Francis Day (Catholic Chrisan)
Oct. 1-7: Sukkot* (Judaism)
Oct. 8: Shemini Atzeret* (Judaism); Thanksgiving (Canada, Interfaith)
Oct. 20: Birth of the Bab* (Baha’i); Installaon of Scriptures as Gukru Granth - Sikh
Oct. 25: Waqf al Arafa - Hajj Day* (Islam)
Oct. 28: Milvian Bridge Day (Chrisan); Reformaon Day (Protestant Chrisan)
Oct. 31: All Hallows Eve (Chrisan)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.

2012
Sara Young * Grade 7 * Havre de Grace Middle School
notes
www.hcps.org

2012
November 1-30: Naonal Nave American Heritage Month
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
October 2012
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
December 2012
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
Second Quarter
First Quarter Ends
1 2 3
Global Studies/Internaonal
Baccalaureate Programme
Open House *- EDHS
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Daylight Savings
4 Time Ends 5 PROF. DEV. 6 7 Begins 8 9 10
Harford Technical High
School Open House 5:30 -
8:00 p.m.
Veterans Day
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
American Educaon
Week (11-17)
(NOTE: See your school
for daily schedule of
acvies.)
Naonal Family
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Week (18-24)
# TEACHER
Schools
CLOSED
for students
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
# General
Elecon Day
Schools &
Offices
CLOSED
Science & Mathemacs
Academy at ABHS Open
House 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
# TEACHER
PROF. DEV.
Schools
CLOSED
for students
Report Cards
Distributed
Elementary Early
Dismissal: students
dismissed
2 1/2 hours early
Administraon
of the Scholasc
Assessment Test
(SAT)
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
# THANKSGIVING
EVE
2-hour Early
Dismissal
# THANKSGIVING
Schools &
Offices
CLOSED
# THANKSGIVING
Schools &
Offices
CLOSED
25 26 27 28 29 30
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
Nov. 1: All Saint’s Day (Chrisan); Samhain Beltane* (Wicca/Pagan; Northern and Southern hemispheres)
Nov. 2: All Soul’s Day (Catholic Chrisan)
Nov. 11-15: Deepavali (Hindu)
Nov. 15: Hijra New Year (Islam); Navity Fast (Orthodox Chrisan)
Nov. 21: Yule (Chrisan)
Nov. 22: Thanksgiving Day (Interfaith)
Nov. 25: Christ the King (Chrisan)
Nov. 26: Day of the Covenant* (Baha’i)
Nov. 30: Saint Andrew’s Day (Chrisan)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.

2012
Paige Quill * Grade 11 * C. Milton Wright High School
notes
www.hcps.org

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
November 2012
S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
January 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
2012
Pearl Harbor Day
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
Administraon
of the Scholasc
Assessment Test
(SAT)
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
9 10 Human Rights Day
11 12 13 14 15
Administraon
of the
American College
Test (ACT)
Bill of Rights Day
First Day of Winter
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
Elementary Early
Dismissal: students
dismissed
2 1/2 hours early
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
# CHRISTMAS EVE
Observance
Schools &
Offices CLOSED
# CHRISTMAS
Observance
Schools &
Offices CLOSED
# WINTER BREAK - SCHOOLS CLOSED
30 31
# WINTER
BREAK-
SCHOOLS
CLOSED
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
Dec. 2: Advent (Chrisan)
Dec. 8: Rohatsu (Buddhist); Immaculate Concepon of Mary (Catholic Chrisan)
Dec. 9-16: Hanukkah* (Juddaism)
Dec. 25: Christmas* (Chrisan); Feast of the Navity (Orthodox Chrisan)
Dec. 26: Zarathosht Diso (Zoroastrain)
Dec. 26 - Jan. 1: Kwanza
Dec. 28: Holy Innocents (Chrisan)
Dec. 30: Feast of the Holy Family (Catholic Chrisan)
Dec. 31: Watch Night (Chrisan)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.

2013
Germarys Sanago Alverez * Grade 1 * Joppatowne Elementary
notes
www.hcps.org

2013
December 2012
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
FRIDAY
1 2 3 4 5
# New Year’s Day
Observance
Schools &
Offices CLOSED
Schools Reopen
Aer Winter
Break
SATURDAY
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
High School
Assessment -
Algebra
High School
Assessment -
English
High School
Assessment -
Biology
High School
Assessment -
Government
First Semester/
13 14 15 16 17 18 Second Quarter
19
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
High School
Assessment -
Make-up for
Algebra
High School
Assessment -
Make-up for
English
High School
Assessment -
Make-up for Biology,
Government
20 21 22 23 24 Semester/Third
25 26
# MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR.’S BIRTHDAY
Schools & Offices
CLOSED
# TEACHER PROF.
DEV.
Schools CLOSED
for students
#TEACHER PROF.
DEV.
Schools CLOSED
for students
Second
Quarter Begins
Ends
Elementary Early
Dismissal: students
dismissed
2 1/2 hours early
Administraon
of the Scholasc
Assessment Test
(SAT)
27 28 29 30 31
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
February 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
Jan. 1: Mary, Mother of God(Catholic Chrisan); Feast of St. Basil (Orthodox Chrisan); Gantan-sai, New Years (Shinto); Holy Name
of Jesus (Orthodox Chrisan)
Jan. 6: Epiphany (Chrisan); Feast of the Theophany (Orthodox Chrisan); Dia de los Reyes (Chrisan); Navity of Christ (Armenian Orthodox)
Jan. 7: Navity of Christ (Orthodox Chrisan)
Jan. 15: World Religion Day (Baha’i)
Jan. 17: Blessing of the Animals (Hispanic Catholic Chrisan)
Jan. 18-25: Week of Prayer for Chrisan Unity (Chrisan)
Jan. 24: Mawlid an Nabi (Islam)
Jan. 25: Conversion of Saint Paul (Chrisan)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.

2013
Jackson Reed * Grade 4 * Abingdon Elementary School
notes
www.hcps.org

2013
February 1-28: Naonal African American History Month, Naonal Children’s Dental Health Month
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
January 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
March 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Naonal Freedom
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Day
Report Cards
Distributed
Groundhog Day
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Administraon
of the
American College
Test (ACT)
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
Elementary Early
Dismissal: students
dismissed
2 1/2 hours early
17 18 19 20 21 22 Washington’s
23
# PRESIDENTS
DAY
Schools &
Offices
CLOSED
George
Birthday
24 25 26 27 28
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
Feb. 2: Candlemas (Chrisan); Presentaon of Christ in the Temple (Anglican Chrisan); Saint Brighid of Kildare (Celc Chrisan); Imbolc and
Sughassad* (Wicca/Pagan)
Feb. 10: Transfiguraon Sunday (Chrisan); Chinese New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist)
Feb. 12: Shrove Tuesday (Chrisan)
Feb. 13: Ash Wednesday - Lent begins through March 23 (Chrisan)
Feb. 14: Valennes Day (Chrisan); Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.

2013
Angela Wood * Grade 7 * Edgewood Middle School
notes
www.hcps.org

2013
March 1-31: NEA’s Read Across America, American Red Cross Month, Irish American Heritage Month, Music in Our Schools Month,
Naonal Middle Level Educaon Month, Naonal Nutrion Month, Social Work Month, Women’s History Month and Youth Art Month
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
February 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28
Naonal Foreign
April 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
1 2
Internaonal
3 4 Language Week 5 6 7 8 Women’s Day 9
(4-10)
Naonal School
Breakfast
Week (4-8)
MSA Math & Reading Tesng Grades 3 - 8
Daylight Savings
10 Time
11 12 13 14 15 16
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
MSA Reading & Math Tesng
Grades 3 - 8
MSA Reading & Math Make-Up Tesng
Elementary Early
Dismissal: students
dismissed
2 1/2 hours early
17 18 19 20
First Day of Spring
21 22 23
Administraon
of the Scholasc
Assessment Test
(SAT)
MSA Reading & Math Make-Up Tesng
Third Quarter Ends
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
Mar. 17: St. Patrick’s Day (Chrisan)
Mar. 19: St. Joseph’s Day (Chrisan)
Mar. 23: Lazarus Saturday (Orthodox Chrisan)
Mar. 24: Orthodox Sunday (Orthodox Chrisan)
Palm Sunday (Chrisan)
Mar. 25: Annunciaon of the Blessed Virgin (Chrisan)
Mar. 26-27: Pesach - Passover* (Judaism)
# GOOD FRIDAY
Schools &
Offices CLOSED
Mar. 28: Maunday Thursday (Chrisan); Hola Mohalla
(Sikh); Birth of the Prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroastrian)
Mar. 29: Good Friday (Chrisan)
Mar. 31: Easter (Chrisan)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. NOTE: For more
information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.
p
g

2013
Glenn Gamble * Grade 12 * Edgewood High School
notes
www.hcps.org

2013
April 1-30: Naonal Poetry Month
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Fourth Quarter
1 2 * 3 * 4 Begins 5 6
# SPRING Break
Schools CLOSED
Schools Reopen
Aer Spring
Break
Report Cards
Distributed
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
MSA Science Test Admin. - Grades 5 - 8
Administraon
of the
American College
Test (ACT)
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Naonal
Environmental
Educaon Week
Naonal
Library Week
(14-20)
Special Senior
Admin. High School
Assessment - Algebra
MSA Science Test Admin. - Grades 5 - 8
Special Senior
Admin. High School
Assessment - English
Special Senior
Admin. High School
Assessment - Biology
Special Senior
Admin. High School
Assessment -
Make-Up
21 22
Earth Day
Naonal Arbor
23 24 25 26 Day
27
Naonal
Volunteer/Public
School Volunteer
Week (21-27)
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
MSA Science Test Admin. - Grades 5 - 8
Elementary Early
Dismissal: students
dismissed
2 1/2 hours early
28 29 30
# TEACHER PROF.
DEV.
Schools CLOSED
for students
* *
# TEACHER PROF.
DEV.
Schools CLOSED
for students
March 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
May 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
*
Indicated Inclement Weather Make-up Day. For informaon on HCPS inclement weather policy, see page 5.
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
Apr. 2: Pesach - Last two days* (Judaism)
Apr. 7: Yom HaSoah * (Judaism)
Apr. 11: Hindu New Year (Hindu)
Apr. 11-20: Ramayana (Hindu)
Apr. 15: Yom Ha’Atzmaut * (Judaism)
Apr. 21: First Day of Ridvan* (Baha’i)
Apr. 23: St. George Day (Chrisan)
Apr. 28: La B’ Omer* (Judaism)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.

2013
Clara Hohenberger * Grade 11 * Harford Technical High School
notes
www.hcps.org

May 1-31: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Beer Hearing and Speech Month, Naonal Physical Fitness
and Sports Month, Preservaon Month
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
April 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
2013
June 2013
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
1 Educaon & 2 3 4
Registraon of PreK/
Kindergarten students
Naonal Music
National School
5 Week (5-12) 6 Library Week 7 8 Nurse Day 9 10 11
Teacher
Appreciaon
Week (5-11)
Naonal
(8-14)
Naonal Physical
Sports Week (1-7)
Advanced Placement Exams
Administraon
of the Scholasc
Assessment Test
(SAT)
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
Advanced Placement Exams
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Armed Forces
Day
High School
Assessment -
Algebra
High School
Assessment -
English
High School
Assessment -
Biology
High School
Assessment -
Government
Elementary Early
Dismissal: students
dismissed
2 1/2 hours early
26 27
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
27 28 29 30 31
# MEMORIAL DAY
Schools & Offices
CLOSED
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
High School
Assessment -
Algebra
(Make-Up)
May 2: Naonal Day Prayer (Interfaith)
May 3: Holy Friday (Orthodox Chrisan)
May 5: Easter/Pascha (Orthodox Chrisan)
May 9: Ascension Day (Chrisan)
May 19: Pentecost (Chrisan)
May 26: Trinity Sunday (Chrisan)
May 30: Corpus Chris (Catholic Chrisan)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date.
NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.
High School
Assessment -
English
(Make-Up)
High School
Assessment -
Biology (Make-Up)
Commencement
Exercise - JAS

2013
Katrina Ngo * Grade 5 * Prospect Mill Elementary School
notes
www.hcps.org

2013
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
June 1-30: Great Outdoors Month, Caribbean American Heritage Month
May 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
July 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
Commencement
2 3 4 Exercises - 5 Exercises - 6 Exercises - 7 Exercises - 8
ABHS, BAHS &
EDHS
Commencement
NHHS, CMWHS
& JOHS
Commencement
FAHS, PMHS, &
HDHS
Commencement
Alt. Ed & HTHS
1
Administraon
of the Scholasc
Assessment Test
(SAT)
Schools close at end of
day for PreK students
Elementary Early
Dismissal: students
dismissed
2 1/2 hours early
Administraon
of the
American College
Test (ACT)
Second Semester/
9 10 11 Fourth Quarter Ends
12 13 14 Flag Day
15
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
First Day of
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Summer
LAST STUDENT DAY
LAST DAY FOR
TEACHERS
Report Cards
Distributed
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
June 5: Lailat al Miraj * (Islam)
June 7: Sacred Heart of Jesus (Catholic)
June 13: Ascension of Jesus (Orthodox Chrisan)
June 29: Saints Peter and Paul (Chrisan)
June 30: All Saints (Orthodox Chrisan)
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date.
NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.
REMINDER
Inclement weather days/emergency system-wide closings cannot be
predicted. It is recommended that vacaons not be scheduled unl aer
June 17th to avoid scheduling conflicts.
NOTE: This calendar contains the potenal for 188 student days -- eight more than the
state minimum requirement of 180 days. If schools are closed eight days or more due
to emergency condions, weather related or otherwise, it may be necessary to alter
the school calendar. The calendar may be reduced if emergency days are not needed to
meet the state mandated minimum required days.
p
g

2013
Zandro Calderon * Grade 10 * Aberdeen High School
notes
www.hcps.org

2013
June 1 - July 4 Fireworks Safety Month
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
1 2 3 4 5 6
# INDEPENDENCE
DAY
Schools & Offices
CLOSED
SATURDAY
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Board of Educaon
Public Meeng
A.A. Roberty Bldg.
6:30 p.m.
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
INTERFAITH HOLIDAYS
July 9: Ramadan begins * (Islam)
July 22: Asalhka Puja Day **(Buddhist)
July 24: Pioneer Day (Mormon Chrisan)
June 2013
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
August 2013
S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
#Key events should not be scheduled.
*Holy Days usually begin at sundown the day before this date.
NOTE: For more information on interfaith holidays, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org.

2013-2014
August 2013
19M-20Tu
New Teachers on Duty
21W-23F
All Teachers on Duty
26M Opening of Schools for Students Grades K-12
28W
Opening of Schools for Pre-K Students
September 2013
2M
Labor Day - Schools & Offices Closed
5Th
Rosh Hashanah - Schools Closed
20F
Elementary Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed 2 ½ Hours Early
October 2013
18F
Maryland State Educaon Convenon - Schools Closed
25F
Elementary Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed 2 ½ Hours Early
31Th
Teacher Staff Development/Elementary Conference Day - Schools Closed for Students
November 2013
1F
Teacher Staff Development/Elementary Conference Day - Schools Closed for Students
15F
Elementary Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed 2 ½ Hours Early
27W
Thanksgiving Holiday - All Students Dismissed 2 Hours Early
28Th, 29F
Thanksgiving Holiday - Schools & Offices Closed
December 2013
13F
Elementary Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed 2 ½ Hours Early
23M
Winter Holiday- Schools Closed
24T
Christmas Eve- Schools & Offices Closed
25W
Christmas Day- Schools & Offices Closed
26Th - 31T
Winter Holidays - Schools Closed
January 2014
1W
New Year’s Day - Schools & Offices Closed
2Th
Schools Reopen Aer Winter Holidays
17F
Elementary Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed 2 ½ Hours Early
20M
Marn Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday - Schools & Offices Closed
21Tu, 22W
Teacher Staff Development Days - Schools Closed for Students
February 2014
14F
Elementary Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed 2 ½ Hours Early
17M
Presidents Day - Schools & Offices Closed
March 2014
21F
Elementary Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed 2 ½ Hours Early
April 2014
*14M-*15Tu
Teacher Staff Development Days - Schools Closed for Students
*16W, 17Th, 18F & 21M Spring Vacaon - Schools Closed
25F
Elementary Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed 2 ½ Hours Early
May 2014
16F
Elementary Early Dismissal - Elementary Students Dismissed 2 ½ Hours Early
26M
Memorial Day - Schools & Offices Closed
June 2014
5Th
Schools Close at the End of the Day for Pre-K Students
6F
Elementary Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed 2 ½ Hours Early
13F
Last Possible Student Day
18W
Last Possible Teacher Day
*Indicate potenal inclement weather make - up days for students: April 14th, 15th & 16th
REMINDER
Inclement weather days/emergency
system-wide closings cannot be
predicted. It is recommended that
vacaons not be scheduled unl
aer June 13th to avoid scheduling
conflicts.
NOTE: This calendar contains the potenal for 187 student days -- seven more than the state minimum requirement of 180 days. If schools are
closed seven days or more due to emergency condions, weather related or otherwise, it may be necessary to alter the school calendar. The
calendar may be reduced if emergency days are not needed to meet the state mandated minimum required days.
49