HCPSS News

The Board of Education recently approved its requested operating budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 (FY 2026). The request goes to the Howard County Executive for consideration. His requested budget then will go to the Howard County Council.

System

HCPSS Strategic Plan

HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes in January launched the HCPSS 2024-2029 strategic plan: Together we will be great! The plan establishes the system’s vision and mission, elevates the shared values of the community, and details five primary priorities that will influence system work.

Partnerships

Help With College Planning and Financial Aid

In a new partnership with College Aid Pro, the organization will offer a free, monthly webinar series with topics including navigating senior year; planning, paying, and preparing for college with confidence; maximizing scholarships; getting a head start; and more.

Celebrations

Oakland Mills Student Named Howard County Youth Poet Laureate

Oakland Mills High School junior Mai-Anh Nguyen has been selected as Howard County’s first-ever Youth Poet Laureate. She will serve a one-year term, helping to coordinate readings and literary events in Howard County.

Graduation Rate for Class of 2024 Above State Average

HCPSS’ Class of 2024 achieved a graduation rate of 93.54%, 5.94 percentage points better than the State average of 87.6% and .97 percentage points above the HCPSS Class of 2023. Additionally, some groups showed notable improvement compared to 2023, including students receiving special education services, Hispanic/Latino students, and those with limited English proficiency.

Staff Focus: Jennifer Hlavka, Coordinator, National Board Certification & Teacher Career Pathways

Jennifer Hlavka supports teachers in a number of ways, including managing the district’s teacher leadership initiatives and pathways; overseeing the Instructional Mentoring program for new and non-tenured teachers; and helping teachers achieve and renew National Board Certification.

New Options for Reporting Hate Biases

Recent updates to the HCPSS Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation form allow users to report hate bias incidents as a type of harassment, and provide space for greater description of the type of hate bias to help inform HCPSS staff decisions on how to best support students and staff members.

Students

Early College Program Prepares Students to Pursue Cyber Careers

HCPSS’ Early College Program in Cybersecurity allows students to earn a high school diploma, a CompTIA Network+ certification, and at least 30 credits toward an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree in Cybersecurity from HCC.

Families

Canvas Features Support Families

HCPSS Connect is made up of several tools, including Synergy, Canvas and Family File, all of which provide access to a variety of student information and classroom instructional tools. Learn more about Canvas, HCPSS’ Learning Management System, through which parents/guardians and students can find upcoming assignments, grades, announcements and more.