HCPS 411 Update

The Office of Strategic Initiatives is pleased to share the 2023-2024 Annual Report.

The Maryland State Department of Education distributed a memo entitled, “Immigration Enforcement Actions at Maryland Schools: A Guide for Students, Families, and Local Education Agencies” on January 23, 2025. The contents of the guide are shared below. This guide is being implemented and followed by HCPS administrators, and we want to ensure that all HCPS staff, students, and families are aware and have an opportunity to review the guide.

From State Superintendent Dr. Carey M. Wright:

“As State Superintendent of Schools, I want to ensure that every student—regardless of immigration status—receives the support they need from our educational system. Every child deserves access to a quality education, and it is our responsibility to uphold that right.

To that end, it is crucial that we provide clear guidance on how to best support immigrant students in our schools, including key topics such as student rights, school registration processes, and how to respond to requests from immigration authorities or law enforcement. In this communication, I will address these important issues to ensure that all members of our school communities are informed, prepared, and able to support immigrant students in a safe, respectful, and legally compliant manner. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring the safety of all Maryland students.

Student Rights

• All children have a right to equal access to a free public education, regardless of the immigration status of the child or their parent/guardian.
• While schools may require proof of residency within the district, information about citizenship or immigration status is never needed for school enrollment.
• Federal and state laws protect education records and personal information. These laws generally require written consent from parents/guardians before releasing information, unless it is for educational purposes, otherwise authorized by law, or in response to a court order or subpoena.
• Some schools collect and make public “directory information” about students, such as name, address, email address, and phone number. If this is a practice, the local educational agency (LEA) must provide parents or guardians with written notice of its directory information policy and provide the option to refuse release of their child’s information. The notice must effectively notify parents who have a primary or home language other than English.
• Students, parents, and guardians have the right to report a hate crime or file a complaint to the school district or the State Superintendent if they or their child has been discriminated against based on national origin.

School Registration

• State education law entitles children ages five years old and under 21 years old who have not received a high school diploma to attend the public schools in the LEA in which they reside without paying tuition.
• Undocumented children, like U.S. citizen/resident children, have the right to attend school full time, as long as they meet the age and residency requirements established by state law.
• The U.S. Supreme Court held in Plyler v. Doe (1982) that schools may not deny students a free public education on the basis of their undocumented or non-citizen status, or that of their parents or guardians.
• At the time of registration, schools should not ask questions related to a parent or student’s immigration status nor request a Social Security number.
• Although LEAs should collect certain data pursuant to state and/or federal laws, they should do so after a student has enrolled in school so as not to give the impression that information related to immigration status will be used in making enrollment determinations.

Requests from Immigration Authorities or Law Enforcement at a School

• Various laws impose legal duties on the LEA with respect to law enforcement questioning students at school and the confidentiality of student records, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.08.02.
• Local school officials should cooperate with law enforcement and federal immigration authorities in accordance with their LEA policies and guidelines and in consultation with their attorneys.
• Upon receipt of a request from immigration officials to access student education records, LEAs should immediately consult with their attorneys, to ensure compliance with FERPA and COMAR 13A.08.02 regarding the release of personally identifiable information (PII) in a student’s education records without the consent of the parent or eligible student.
• Before fulfilling a request from federal immigration authorities or law enforcement to enforce immigration laws, LEA employees should immediately contact the local superintendent and school attorneys for legal advice.
• If federal immigration officials or law enforcement enter a school building seeking access to students (for interviews and/or questioning), school personnel should contact the local superintendent immediately for guidance. School personnel should not argue or debate with immigration enforcement officials but should direct them to the local superintendent or designated administrator for further action.
• LEA personnel should immediately notify the student’s parent or guardian if an immigration official or law enforcement officer requests or gains access to a student for immigration-enforcement purposes, unless such access was following a judicial warrant or subpoena that restricts the disclosure of the information to the parent or guardian.

Training for School Personnel

• LEAs should establish training regarding immigration issues for teachers, school administrators, and school staff, including information on responding to a request from an immigration or law enforcement officer seeking to enforce immigration laws at a school or to access a student or student records.

Resources for Families

• Parents/guardians can update their child’s emergency contact information at school, including secondary contacts, to identify a trusted adult who can care for their child if they are detained or deported. They can also identify a “standby guardian” to care for their child if they are detained or deported, by completing this Maryland Judiciary form and providing a copy to schools, health care providers, and family members.
• Families trying to locate someone who has already been detained, may use the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee locator.
• Legal assistance is available from a variety of sources, including immigration lawyers in private practice, accredited representatives (non-attorneys who assist individuals in immigration proceedings), and legal-aid organizations:
  The People’s Law Library of Maryland
  Immigration Advocates Network
• Several immigration organizations have prepared comprehensive guidance on preparing for and responding to immigration enforcement actions:
  Family Preparedness Plans
  ACLU Know Your Rights: Immigrant Rights Scenarios
  Catholic Legal Immigration Network Rapid Response Toolkit
  USAHello 2025 Immigration Guide
• Families also may wish to contact the consulate or embassy of their country of origin for further information.”

On Thursday, January 16, 2025, HCPS experienced an issue with the third-party vendor responsible for handling pay stubs, including the email delivery. The vendor is actively investigating to determine the cause of the error.

As a precaution and to protect employee privacy, HCPS will be pausing the email delivery of pay stubs. Moving forward, pay stubs will be accessible in Lawson, with current pay stubs being posted no later than the pay date.

If you have any questions regarding this change, please contact payroll@hcps.org.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

We are thrilled to announce that HCPS is honored to have three recipients of this year's NMTC Visionary Awards, which is a celebration of exceptional individuals whose efforts drive innovation in our community. The NMTC Visionary Awards recognize the outstanding contributions of our neighbors, colleagues, family, and friends who inspire the next generation and expand our region's economic potential.

Dr. Sean Bulson and Joseph Connolly are both being honored in the Leader award category, which honors individuals who demonstrate steadfast and consistent leadership efforts while inspiring others.

Dr. Eric Davis is being honored in the Mentor award category, which recognizes those who generously volunteer their knowledge and wisdom to inspire greatness in students, educators, and emerging leaders.

Are you a first-year teacher with HCPS?

Interested in collaborating with system leaders and experts?

SHINE U is for YOU!

SHINE U Spring Semester begins on February 20, 2025, at Patterson Mill High School.

Use the QR code to register today! Or, click this link: https://forms.office.com/r/WNLEmYgMS9.

In February, experienced Behavior Intervention Coaches will share strategies for addressing classroom environment and HCPS Teacher of the Year, Erica Richardson, will highlight best practices for success!

Secondary teachers begin at 4:00 p.m.; Elementary teachers begin at 5:00 p.m.

We are excited to share some BIG news! It is with great pride that we announce that William S. James Elementary is the Second Quarter Family Friendly School Award winner!! Way to go, Jaguars! William S. James Elementary is now a two-time winner of this prestigious award!

The community nominated and voted for the schools worthy of this honor, which placed William S. James as one of the top three finalists. Then, the finalist schools were reviewed and scored on the following criteria: Welcoming All Families, Effective Communication and Relationship Development, Family Efficacy, School Performance and Achievement Plan, and Community Partners. William S. James scored the highest, making them our second quarter winner.

We made the surprise announcement at the school this week with our friends from Chick-fil-A Constant Friendship.

Watch this video with Principal Beth Farver who highlights the amazing work William S. James Elementary School staff are doing that earned the school this special recognition.

And special shout out to this quarter’s runner-up schools – two of our awesome high schools!!

• Harford Technical High School
• North Harford High School

The HCPS Limelight program celebrates school-based employees who consistently demonstrate outstanding service to others. Honorees are nominated by their administrator. HCPS Limelight events are held virtually once a month during the school year and are sponsored by a different community business partner each month.

Congratulations to all of the January honorees highlighted below for serving in a BIG (Bold, Invested, Genuine) way this month!

A HUGE thank you to David Johnson, CFP, CPFA of Merrill for helping us celebrate HCPS staff this month as our sponsor!

On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., the Board of Education of Harford County will host a Budget Public Input Session on the proposed FY26 budget. The meeting will be held in the Board Room of the A.A. Roberty Building.

Individuals or recognized groups wishing to provide input on the FY26 Budget may request to do so by sending an email to publiccomment@hcps.org or by calling 410-588-5347. Please note, if you intend to provide your comments virtually, you must pre-register by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. “Request to Appear Before the Board,” cards will be available prior to the Board Budget Input Session for in-person attendees to sign-up and must be submitted before the start of the meeting.

For more information about the proposed FY26 budget, please visit www.hcps.org/budget.

Harford County Public Schools was informed FEV Tutoring, a service many of our students and families utilize for academic support, has ceased operations. This change went into effect on January 25, 2025.

As a result, all scheduled tutoring sessions, including the SAT prep course that was set to begin this week, have been canceled. Information regarding FEV Tutoring is being removed from the HCPS website.

FEV Tutor provided the following explanation to HCPS staff:

“Why did this happen?
The final months of 2024 brought significant financial challenges, including lower-than-expected sales and a sudden shift in capital commitments from our lender. Despite exhaustive efforts, we were unable to secure the resources needed to continue operations.

What about our students?
FEV Tutor ceased operations as of January 25, 2025. Unfortunately, all scheduled tutoring sessions have been cancelled as part of the shutdown.”

Given the abrupt nature of this situation, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to find or implement a comparable solution at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause your family and appreciate your understanding as we work through this unexpected challenge.

BIG shout out to HCPS staff in the Student Support Services Department, the Office of Early Childhood, and Parent Academy who, in partnership with UM Upper Chesapeake Health, prepared the next round of readiness bags that will be given to hundreds of Harford County babies to support school readiness.

The Maryland Virtual Learning Opportunities (MVPLO) Spring 2025 Catalog and registration for online courses are now available. Please visit our PL Online Courses page for links to the online catalog, print catalog, and registration site.

Note: You must have an active MSDE Canvas account to register. If you do not have an active MSDE Canvas account, please email econnect.msde@maryland.gov.

Registration is open until February 6, 2025.

Restorative Practices Training is available via Teams this month and in person at the TUNE Center in February and March. Register today on Hector!

Hector Registration Links:

• Virtual: https://www.hcps.org/registration/workshops/workshops.aspx?filter=1814
• In person: https://www.hcps.org/registration/workshops/workshops.aspx?filter=1813

Questions? Please email Rachel Trovato at rachel.trovato@hcps.org.

The Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School project is coming along nicely!

Take a look at how it's progressing, and see how the new building will be ready for the first day of school in the fall!

The link to the online grant application is harfordeducation.org/sandy-long-grant-program.

Online applications are due by February 14, 2025.

The next Board of Education of Harford County’s Engage for Education listening session is Wednesday, February 12, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Joppatowne High School in the auditorium.

Following the February 12 session, the last public session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Havre de Grace High School.

No pre-registration is required to attend or speak at these Board listening sessions. For more information, or to provide feedback directly to the Board if you are unable to attend one of the sessions, please visit the Engage for Education page on hcps.org.

On Thursday, February 6, 2025, the HCPS Career and Technology Education (CTE) Office will host an informational event for students and families about the programs of study within comprehensive high schools, as well as HCPS Signature and Magnet programs. The event, designed for families with students in grades 4-7, will be at Patterson Mill Middle/High School. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will run from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Students and families will circulate this fair-style event to speak with representatives from each of the ten MSDE-recognized Career Clusters including Maryland Youth Apprenticeship and Harford Youth Workforce Investment. Current students and teachers will be available to engage students in demonstrations, showcasing how CTE innovatively prepares students for opportunities beyond high school.

The following Maryland State Department of Education recognized programs of study will be represented: Arts, Media and Communications; Business Management, Finance and Entrepreneurship; Health and Human Services; Natural Resources and Agricultural Science; and Science, Engineering and Technology.

For more information about the event, and the programs offered within Harford County Public Schools, visit the CTE webpage on hcps.org.

Did you know the Board of Education of Harford County asks for public feedback when new policies or revisions to existing policies are presented and discussed at Board business meetings? Provide your feedback to the Board on a specific policy by the deadline listed on the webpage: https://hcps.org/boe/hottopics/default.aspx.

The Retirement Coordinators of HCPS, via the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (MSRPS), announce a pre-retirement seminar for HCPS employees. This seminar will provide vital retirement information to all members within eight (8) years of retirement, whether regular or early service retirement. Please note: this seminar is a condensed version of our annual pre-retirement seminar held each fall. Discussion topics will include:

• HCPS Retiree Benefits
• State Retirement Pension Benefits

This year's pre-retirement seminar will be held in person at Bel Air High School on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, beginning at 4:30 p.m. The link to register will be available as the event date approaches.

Energize Your Health with the $10,000 School Team Challenge: Presented by the HCPS Wellness Committee in partnership with HealthyWage

The $10,000 HealthyWage School Team Challenge is officially underway, but here is your lucky break: You can still join! Time is ticking, so do not wait! Register now to dive into this high-energy, 12-week adventure with your coworkers, family, and friends. Teams of five (5) compete for an ultimate prize: up to $10,000!

Don’t miss life-changing results, thrilling team fun, and serious cash rewards. Jump in before it is too late!

What to Know:

• Register online or on the HealthyWage mobile app.
• Start date is on January 24, 2025.
• Create a team of five (5) coworkers, friends, and/or family members. Don’t have a team? No problem! HealthyWage will match you up with one!
• Compete against other teams from organizations to lose the greatest percentage of weight in 12 weeks to win the GRAND PRIZE of $10,000!
  - Organizations that have at least 50 total participants will receive a top team prize of $1,500 (if they aren’t the grand prize-winning team).
• Enjoy fun and interactive mini-challenges like “Smart Swap” and “Get Active” to collect achievement ribbons!
• Get active on HealthyWage’s interactive mobile app to connect with your teammates, gain healthy tips, and check your personal and team stats and standings!
• There is a participant registration fee of $84 (individuals can elect to pay this fee in three payments of $28). However, you will earn back your registration fee by losing 10% or more weight in 9 months!
• Not looking to lose weight but want to participate? Register as a team cheerleader for free and support your five teammates (limit one cheerleader per team). If you’re on a winning team, you’ll win an equal share of the cash prize!

Questions? Contact HealthyWage at info@healthywage.com or 888.636.3832

This February, Focus on Creating Sustainable Heart Healthy Habits During American Heart Month

Did you know heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.? While there are a few risk factors we cannot control, like age and family history, the good news is there are many we can, through small, consistent lifestyle changes, that will make a significant overall impact. This month is a time to reflect on the steps we can take to care for our most vital organ, our heart. Click here to learn more.

February CareFirst Wellbeing Challenge: Healthier Heart Challenge

Join the February Healthier Heart Challenge and track all your physical activity throughout the month. Movement can be tracked for many types of exercise, but you can also log minutes by simply cleaning the house or shoveling the snow. Click here to learn more.

NOW AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS: CareFirst WellBeing Unwinding Program

Unwinding isn’t your average meditation app.

Unwinding is more than just nice videos or disconnected medications. This app offers short, practical tools to deal with stress, anxiety, overeating, anger, and more. It teaches you how your mind works and how to use mindfulness to manage stress and unwanted behaviors.

Available through CareFirst WellBeing, Unwinding is a digital resource that helps you build resilience and create a more focused, aware, and mindful approach to life and work. This app offers on-demand, in-the-moment tools to ease stress throughout the day. Members can log in or sign up through carefirst.com/wellbeing or by downloading the CareFirst WellBeing app. Click here to learn more.

One-on-One Personal Health Coaching: Easy as 1, 2, 3

You can participate in personal health coaching as part of your CareFirst Wellbeing program. Your health coach will work with you and provide the support, guidance, and encouragement you need to see actual results. Your coaching program is personalized, approachable, and delivered through one-on-one calls and an easy-to-use portal where you can find additional resources, schedule calls with your coach, and more. Click here to learn more about the Personal Health Coach Program available through your CareFirst coverage.

With the CareFirst Blue365 wellness discount program, you can find great deals for every aspect of your life—like 20% off at Reebok.com, discounted nutrition products, or a gym membership for only $28 a month. To take advantage of Blue365, register now at carefirst.com/wellnessdiscounts. This online destination features healthy deals and discounts exclusively for CareFirst members.

Just have your CareFirst member ID card handy and use your member ID number on your medical card to register for Blue365. If you are not enrolled in the medical plan but carry one of the other CareFirst coverage options, enter 233 instead of a member ID number. You will be registered and ready to shop in a few minutes. Blue365 will send a special deal to your email inbox every week. Click here to get started.

Join BurnAlong this month as they kickstart February with heartfelt motivation! Join the BurnAlong team for inspiring sessions that boost fitness, self-love, and strong relationships. It’s time to focus on you and make this month your best! To help get started, BurnAlong is hosting live events, which are recorded and posted for later viewing as well, throughout February:

• February 6 at 12:00 p.m.: Fueling Motivation Through Passion
• February 19 at 12:00 p.m.: A Holistic Approach to Cardiovascular Wellness
• February 27 at 12:00 p.m.: Nurturing Self-Love and Healthy Relationships

Looking for More Class Recommendations? Click on the calendar below to access suggested classes for February:

Have you registered for your Burnalong account yet?

Are you ready to take time out for yourself?

Visit the Staff Wellness page on the HCPS website by clicking the calendar below to learn about other exciting events and opportunities available to all employees.

Employees who wish to provide feedback on their experience(s) obtaining medications through CVS retail pharmacies are advised to complete the CVS/Caremark Service Reporting Tool, available on SharePoint. This report is monitored bi-weekly by a member of the Benefits Office for further assistance and tracking of member service feedback. To access this form, visit the Harford County Public Schools – SharePoint Home Page.

As always, if there is an immediate need or concern when obtaining medication, please email benefits@hcps.org so that a member of the Benefits Office can assist you more quickly.

Finding Your Inner Glow

Everyone has unique strengths and qualities that make them who they are. Sometimes, however, it’s easy to forget how special and capable we are. In this session, let Acentra Health help you identify your positive traits and learn how to highlight them in everyday life, resulting in a more genuine and confident self-presentation. You can learn more by clicking here.

Date: Available on demand now

Broadcast Length: 60 minutes

How to Access Webinars

Go to your EAP website, www.EAPHelpLink.com. Enter your code, HCPS, and look for Online Seminars in the lower left-hand corner of this homepage. You can also search for them by title.

The Employee Assistance Program is available to employees and their families anytime, any day. It is a free, confidential program that helps you balance your work, family, and personal life.

Employees and their family members can call Acentra Health toll-free at (866) 795-5701 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit their website at www.EAPhelplink.com.

"A giant J-Towne thank you to Matt Bedsaul! We are so grateful for all of your immediate actions of support and guidance with all things Safety and Security at Joppatowne Elementary School. You have been so quick to jump in and become an active part of our team. One Love, The J-Towne Elementary Team! 💜"

"I would like to give a big shout out to Ashley Bergstrom at North Harford Elementary School. Our school is so clean, and she goes above and beyond everyday for the students and staff!"

-Dianna Bartlett, Paraeducator, North Harford Elementary School

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org