HCPSSGetting Ready for 2025-2026: Communications & Technology
August 16th, 2025
This part of a series of back-to-school information items. Additional information related to the 2025-2026 school year can be found online, and will be continually updated as details become available.
Communications
Emergency Notifications
In emergency situations (including inclement weather), information will be shared with the community through the HCPSS website, email and text, and the HCPSS weather hotline. The current operating status is always identified on the HCPSS status website.
HCPSS Online
Parents/guardians can visit several HCPSS websites for details on school system programs and initiatives, news and information, and answers to frequently asked questions. Those sites can be found directly at:
- HCPSS website, www.hcpss.org
- HCPSS News site, https://news.hcpss.org
- HCPSS Help site, https://help.hcpss.org
Families can find information specific to their children’s schools by visiting school websites. Links to all school sites can be found online.
HCPSS has an active Instagram. Many of our schools also use social media to communicate and engage with their communities. Check with your school for details.
HCPSS News
HCPSS News email and text alerts keep families up-to-date on news and events, and deliver real-time notices of emergency closings and information. In addition to emergency notifications, during the school year HCPSS sends a weekly email message to families with timely information. All HCPSS News subscriptions are generated from the information provided in Family File and have been automatically updated for the 2025-2026 school year. Parents/guardians new to the system are automatically enrolled for email notification. All users must opt in to text alerts one time. If you are unsure if you have opted in, text the word “YES” to 67587 from the mobile number in Family File.
Please note! Unsubscribing from any school or district email or text will unsubscribe you from all future messaging, including emergency notifications. If you have inadvertently unsubscribed, please contact your child’s school.
Mobile Application
The free HCPSS mobile app delivers HCPSS system and school news, upcoming events, information on the Board of Education, and more.
Board of Education Communications
Information regarding the Howard County Board of Education can be found online, including upcoming regular meetings, a link to full meeting schedules, Board member details, and more.
Technology
Complete information on HCPSS technology can be found online, including details on:
Canvas
HCPSS utilizes the Canvas learning management system to access and manage online course learning materials, grades and more. Canvas is available to families online and via mobile app. Orientation videos for each school level, as well as guides for students and parents are available online.
Connect / Synergy
HCPSS Connect provides access to a variety of student information and classroom instructional tools offering personalized communication and timely, relevant and easily accessible information relating to your student. Parents/guardians may log in via HCPSS Connect to access and update Family File, access student attendance records, view report cards and more.
HCPSS Student Devices
The current HCPSS device deployment implementation plan is:
- Pre-K-5: Students will share devices that will be kept at school. Students who have a device identified as a supplementary aid as designated in an IEP or 504 Plan will continue to have a device assigned to them.
- 6-12: All students have or will receive an HCPSS-issued device to bring back-and-forth from home to school each day.
Families should review device responsibilities to learn about how to care for devices and their responsibilities should a device become lost, stolen or damaged while in their care.
Technology Accounts for New Students
Families with students new to HCPSS and whose registration has been finalized last week began receiving emails from security_notifications@hcpss.org with the subject “Technology account information for new HCPSS student.” The communication will be sent to the parent/guardian email address used during the student registration process and contains personalized and important information regarding new students’ technology accounts.
If you have a child new to HCPSS and did not receive the email and/or cannot locate the email in the junk/spam folder of the email account you used during registration, you can use the Forgot Password or Username button on the hcpss.me student landing page to retrieve both your child’s username and password. Directions for Account Self Service are posted online.
Supporting Responsible Use, and Online Safety
HCPSS staff work continuously to help teach responsible use of technology and ensure students are exhibiting safe behaviors online.
There are resources available on the HCPSS website detailing these efforts, including information on content filters, Lightspeed parent portal, consent for Google services (YouTube), and more.