
The proposed HCPS 2027-2028 school year calendar is now posted for public comment. Families, students, staff and community members have 30 days, from October 13, 2026, through November 14, 2026, to review the draft and provide feedback before the Board of Education of Harford County finalizes it at the November 23, 2026, Board Business Meeting.
The next Parent Academy virtual Lunch & Learn is on Why Our Children Self-Harm and will be held Wednesday, November 18, at 12:00 p.m. Parents will learn tools to better understand why self-harm happens and how they can support a child who is self-harming. Registration, attendance, and participation are completely anonymous. Can’t attend the live session? No problem! Register anyway, and a recording will be sent directly to your inbox so you can watch at a time that works best for you. Register here: https://cookcenter.info/Nov18Harford.
Families who were approved for free or reduced-price meal benefits during the 2025-2026 school year need to apply for benefits for the new school year before Tuesday, October 13, 2026, to avoid a lapse in benefits. Families must reapply each school year. Click here to apply online. Click here to download a paper application. If you have any questions, please contact the Food and Nutrition Office at 410-638-4078.
Students who took the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments in spring 2026 will receive their individual score reports the week of September 28, 2026. Each student’s school will send home hard copies of the reports. The reports summarize student performance overall and by subject area. For information on how to interpret the results, click here. Families with questions about their student’s scores should contact their school directly.
Nominations are now open for the Harford County Education Foundation's Everyday Hero Award and the 2027 Harford County Public Schools Teacher of the Year!
We invite all families to nominate a teacher who exemplifies innovative instruction, inspires students, and gives tirelessly to the children in our community. Each school's official nominee will be invited to attend the Everyday Hero Awards dinner in November and to participate in the Teacher of the Year process, with the 2027 Harford County Public Schools Teacher of the Year named in April.
Nominations close Sunday, October 4. Click here for more information and submit a nomination.
Register to Attend at https://us04web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OsXAUmwpQgeNaU3Tfgc9JQ
Monday is Labor Day!
HCPS schools and offices are closed Monday in observance of the holiday. Enjoy you're long weekend and we will see everyone back in class Tuesdady!
Your student may see Open Gate in use at different events, different times of the day, and at any point in the school year. The use of the Open Gate technology is another layer of safety and security; its use during the school day does not indicate a specific threat or concern. It is a proactive measure to better ensure student safety.
As has been the practice of Harford County Public Schools, if there is a specific threat or concern to a school, that information will be communicated directly with that school community.
BAHS New Student Orientation is scheduled for Friday, August 21, 2026 from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM. Start your day by picking up your schedule & locker information in our Main Lobby. New BAHS students will have the opportunity to follow their schedules at their own pace while exploring the building and finding their lockers. BAHS student clubs & organizations will be there to share information about the activities they participate in and how to join. We hope to see you there! (Due to the weather forecast, we will no longer be meeting in the Stadium for the Class Picture)
Harford County Public Schools will be live streaming all 2026 graduation ceremonies held at APGFCU Arena at Harford Community College. Thanks to our partners at Harford Community College and the APGFCU Arena, families and friends can watch every moment live at youtube.com/@HCPSchools. Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Wednesday, May 6 is National School Nurse Day. Harford County Public Schools is proud to recognize our school nurses for their dedication, expertise, and compassionate care for our students each and every day. Thank you!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Harford County Public Schools is committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of our students, staff, and families. Throughout May, we will be sharing resources and information to help our community thrive inside and outside the classroom.
The Harford County Board of Education has approved an adjustment to the 2026-2027 calendar involving built-in inclement weather days. Schools and offices will now be closed on March 1, June 1, and April 12, 2027, and those days will be used as makeup days, in the order listed, only if needed due to inclement weather cancellations.
The adjustment reflects guidance from the Maryland State Board of Education, which has expressed a preference for makeup days to be distributed throughout the school year, and the use of virtual instruction, rather than adding days to the end of the school year.
The full, updated 2026–2027 school calendar is available here. En Español.
Join Harford County Public Schools, the Office on Mental Health, UM Upper Chesapeake Health, and the Cook Center for Human Connection on May 8, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Ripken Stadium for Your Mind Matters. This free family wellness event will include activities for the entire family including crafts, a bounce house, rock climbing, football, and a light race.
The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Visit harfordmentalhealth.org for more information and to register.
Congratulations to Vibha Nanduri from Bel Air High School for being named the 2026-2027 Student Member of the Board!
Vibha was elected during the HCRASC General Assembly meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Her term will run from July 1, 2026 and run through June 30, 2027.
She is currently a junior in the Biomedical Sciences program at Bel Air High School. She serves as 1st Vice President of HCRASC and the Environmental Affairs Coordinator for the Maryland Association of Student Councils.
Congratulations Vibha!
U.S. Service Academy Virtual Information Event -- April 21
Families of students interested in attending a United States Service Academy are invited to a free virtual information event hosted by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.
Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and U.S. Army ROTC will be on hand to discuss what each academy offers, their admissions processes, and how the Congressional nomination process works.
Click here to register. If you have any questions, contact Senator Van Hollen's office at academynominations@vanhollen.senate.gov or (301) 545-1500.