Our K-2 students were able to "Take a bite out of crime" today! Thank you to the Harford County Sheriff's Office for bringing McGruff to Emmorton to help teach our students about safety in the community. We don't know who was more excited, our students or our staff to have this blast from the past!
It’s National School Lunch Week! Harford County Public Schools is proud to celebrate our Food and Nutrition employees, whose dedication and hard work ensure students have healthy, balanced meals every day. These meals provide the fuel students need to learn, grow, and succeed, and our staff do it with care and commitment in every school. Join us this week in recognizing their incredible contributions and showing your appreciation for the team that keeps our students nourished and ready to learn.
Students in grades 3–12 will have the opportunity to take the optional Wellness Needs Assessment between October 20 and November 17, 2025. The assessment helps HCPS learn how to better support students. Families who do not want their child to participate should contact their child’s school counselor by October 13, 2025. Click here to see a copy of the Wellness Needs Assessment.
Students who participated in the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments in the Spring of 2025 will receive their individual score reports the week of October 6, 2025. Reports will be sent home by each student’s school and provide information about student performance. Families with questions about their student’s scores should contact their school directly.
Meal benefit applications may be filed at any time during the year - if your family has been impacted by the Federal Government shutdown and furloughs, please utilize the Free and Reduced-Priced meal application to apply for meal support due to the sudden loss of income. Click here to apply online.
October is National Principals Month! This is a time to recognize and celebrate the dedicated leaders who guide our schools each day. Principals play a vital role in supporting students, staff, and families while shaping positive school communities. Join us in thanking our principals for their leadership and commitment to student success.
HCRASC commUNITY in Motion 5K & Family Fun Run – Saturday, October 18
The Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils (HCRASC) invites families and community members to participate in the commUNITY in Motion 5K and 1 Mile Family Fun Run. This student-run event will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Harford Technical High School in Bel Air. Gates open at 9:00 AM and the race starts at 10:00 AM.
Join HCRASC for a morning of fitness, fun, and community while supporting HCPS student leaders. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Upper Chesapeake Health for Breast Cancer Care.
Registration fees are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Children under 5-years-old are free. Click here to register.
The Board of Education of Harford County will hold Engage for Education listening sessions throughout the 2025–2026 school year. The first session is Tuesday, September 30, 2025, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the C. Milton Wright High School auditorium.
These sessions are an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts on the future of education in Harford County directly with Board members. No pre-registration is required to attend or speak.
More information, including how to provide feedback if you cannot attend, is available on the Engage for Education page at hcps.org.
HCPS schools will dismiss three hours early for students on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Please note: half-day Pre-K will not meet on early dismissal days. The full 2025–2026 school year calendar is available by clicking here.
This week, HCPS joins schools across the country in celebrating the power of the arts in education. From music and theater to visual and digital arts, the arts inspire creativity, build confidence, and help students discover their voices.
Join the Harford County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) for their monthly meeting on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Networking begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting from 7:00–8:30 p.m.
The agenda includes a Co-Chair Election, Meet Your SECAC, and an HCPS Special Education presentation.
This meeting will be held virtually.
Click here to register.
The following is being shared with families who have Kindergarten students in HCPS, on behalf of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE):
This fall your student will take the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA). The KRA is an assessment that measures a student's knowledge, skills, and abilities in literacy, mathematics, and social and emotional development. It is given to all kindergarten students enrolled in public schools in Maryland by October 10th each year. The purpose of the KRA is to provide teachers and caregivers with information about what students know and can do, as well as to identify areas where they might need additional support. The assessment has three components:
• Star Early Literacy - 10-minute computer adaptive assessment of early literacy skills
• Star Math – 15-minute computer adaptive assessment of math skills
• SAEBRS (Social Academic Emotional Behavior Risk Screen) – 19-question survey completed based on
teacher observation
Most students will take the literacy and mathematics components of the KRA on a computer or tablet. The test will be read out loud to students who will use a mouse or touchscreen to select answers. Paper tests, ASL interpretation, and other accommodations are available for students who need them. Teachers will complete the social and emotional component of the assessment after spending the first few weeks of school getting to know students and completing observations.
Caregivers will receive information about how their student performed after the assessment has been administered. The results provide information about a student's mastery of the content and skills that will support their success in kindergarten. Performance on the KRA does not prevent a child from entering or remaining in kindergarten. The KRA results are only one piece of data, and scores should be understood in the context of other information, including feedback from a student’s teacher.
If you have questions about the KRA please speak with your student’s teacher.
Sincerely,
Erika McCrea
Executive Director of State Assessments
Families of HCPS fifth graders are invited to attend an Open House at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center. These events are an opportunity to explore the grounds and facilities, meet staff, and learn more about the Fifth Grade Residential Outdoor Education Program before your student participates in this unique overnight experience.
Open Houses are scheduled throughout the school year. To see a full list of dates and times, click here.
Reminders and important info to start the 2025-2026 school year:
The Back to School Checklist includes links to all the required and optional documents to start your school year!
The Student Handbook is a great resource for students, parents, and guardians.
The new webpage, Stay Connected with Your Student’s Learning, was made to help parents and guardians connect directly to their student’s curriculum and understand options to support their child’s learning. This includes the process to follow for opting out of specific elements of the curriculum.
HCPS parents are their child’s first and best teachers! The HCPS Parent Academy is here to support you with resources, tools, and newsletters designed to keep families informed and engaged.
Check out the Parent Connection newsletter archive here: https://www.hcps.org/parents/parentacademy/parentconnectionarchive.aspx
Click here to visit the Parent Academy webpage for even more parent resources.
