Updates to COVID Outbreaks and Contact Protocols

Following consultation with the Howard County Health Department (HCHD), HCPSS is implementing changes when a school experiences an outbreak. Also effective immediately, any student or staff member who is identified as part of an outbreak setting, not up-to-date on vaccines, and asymptomatic will be expected to test before coming to school.

Physical Education Teachers Help Students Build Lifelong Interests and Skills

HCPSS physical education (PE) teachers don’t just teach students how to play sports; they teach them a whole range of life skills, like teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership, that apply on and off the court. PE teachers also work hard to provide students with opportunities to discover activities that they can enjoy for a lifetime.

HCPSS’ Teen Parenting Programs: Putting Students and Their Children on a Path to Success

Begun in 1985, HCPSS’s Teen Parenting Program was developed to support the county’s teen parents and provide them with the tools and resources they would need to complete high school. Today, the program has two components: an outreach program and a childcare program. The Outreach Program provides academic and social support for pregnant teens, and for parenting teens who choose to remain in their home schools after the birth of their child.
The Childcare Program serves up to 12 students from across the county, along with 12 babies.

21 HCPSS Students Earn an Associate Degree While in High School

Eighteen current high school students will earn their college degrees before graduating high school, as part of the JumpStart dual enrollment program, a partnership between the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) and Howard Community College (HCC).

Supporting HCPSS Students with Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders

HCPSS supports students with a wide range of needs, including those with speech, language, and hearing disorders. HCPSS employs more than 140 speech-language pathologists (SLPs), who are distributed across elementary, middle and high schools in the county and are trained to identify and treat speech and language disorders in children ages birth-21. In addition, HCPSS has two educational audiologists and four teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing, who identify, assess, and support students with hearing loss.

HCPSS Selected to Participate in Maryland State Personnel Development Grant

The Howard County Public School System was selected as one of two local school systems to participate in the Maryland State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The total grant award is 5.5 million dollars to be spent over the next four years between MSDE and the two participating school systems.

HCPSS Staff Team Up to Educate Students on Civil Discourse and Debate

Instructional Mentor for Secondary Social Studies Kelly Reichardt and Lisbon Elementary School Library Media Specialist Stephanie Hastings have worked together for several years. Most recently, they collaborated to create and deliver a two-day lesson for fifth grade students, designed to encourage students to consider all sides of an issue and engage in civil discourse and debate.

Career Academy Equips Students with Professional Skills and Helps Solidify Their Post-Secondary Plans

Students who enroll in HCPSS’ Academy of Health Professions can choose from several tracks, including emergency medical technical, certified nursing assistant, and physical rehabilitation. Learn about the first-hand experiences of students enrolled in this academy.

Wilde Lake HS Student Abisola Ayoola Elected 2022-2023 SMOB

Abisola Ayoola, a Wilde Lake High School sophomore, was elected Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for the 2022-2023 school year. The election, open to all middle and high school students, was conducted by the Howard County Association of Student Councils (HCASC) on May 4.

HCPSS Students Advance to National History Day Competition

Eighteen Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) students will advance to the National History Day Competition, being held virtually in early June. The students won first or second place at the state-level Maryland History Day Competition, held on April 30, 2022 at University of Maryland, Baltimore County.