Howard County Board of Education Approves School Resource Officer Memorandum of Understanding

June 25th, 2021

At the Board of Education meeting on June 24, 2021, the Howard County Board of Education approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) on the School Resource Officer (SRO) program for the 2021–2022 school year.

Highlights of the MOU include:

• Recognition that a vast majority of student misconduct is best addressed via the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct and through classroom and in-school strategies.
• HCPSS School Administrators will implement HCPSS policies and Student Code of Conduct without involving SROs.
• Both HCPSS and HCPD will support an equity and antiracism focus by addressing systemic racism and systemic inequities.
• SROs will wear the HCPD-provided “dressed down” uniform daily; except when HCPD’s policy requires Officers to wear the standard issued uniform.
• HCPSS will provide training for SROs including Restorative Justice Practices, Culturally Responsive Practices, Racial Equity, Disability Awareness, De-escalation Practices, and other training specifically aimed at addressing racial, ethnic, and class disparities in how students are treated.

The approval of the MOU allows SROs to return to high school buildings at the start of the 2021–2022 school year. As part of the MOU, SROs will not be in HCPSS elementary and middle schools.

The full MOU can be found online.