News

Do you enjoy singing? Please consider joining the Howard County Employee Chorus - no previous chorus experience necessary, just a love for singing! Please watch the following promotional video for more information, and if interested, please register online using this registration link. The chorus is open to all HCPSS employees, as well as their significant others or adult family members. 

The first rehearsal is Wednesday, Jan. 7 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Howard High School. More information will be sent to those who register. Questions may be emailed to to Caleb Lee at caleb_lee@hcpss.org.

Employees may be entitled to claim an Earned Income Tax Credit on their 2025 federal and Maryland resident income tax returns if both their federal adjusted gross income and their earned income is less than the following:

• $19,104 ($26,214 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children/relatives
• $50,434 ($57,554 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child/relative
• $57,310 ($64,430 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children/relatives
• $61,555 ($68,675 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children/relatives

See attached for details. For more information about the Maryland EITC, visit marylandtaxes.gov  and for the federal EITC, visit www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc.

Staff who are interested in receiving your W-2 earlier than Jan. 31 should look for an upcoming Workday Notification email that will tell you how to sign up for an electronic version of your Form W-2. If you select the electronic copy only, it will be available weeks prior to the electronic/printed copy option. 

More information to follow.

New circulars have been posted:

• #0002 – Policy Updates
• #3002 – Year-End Close
• #3006 – Procurement Verification of Vendor Debarment (Federal Funds)
• #3007 – Procurement Renewal Letters and Price Adjustment Clauses
• #3008 – Procurement Procedures

HCPSS circulars are to share information when that information is needed by staff systemwide and is not specific to a particular school/location or position/job class. All HCPSS staff are responsible for adhering to the guidelines and procedures outlined in the circulars. Circulars are released on July 1, and subsequently as needed throughout the year. When a new circular is added, staff will be notified via Staff Hub post/email. Circulars are available anytime in Canvas (staff login required), which also can be accessed from the Staff Hub under the Services dropdown menu.

In an effort to evaluate and improve service, the Procurement Office is conducting a performance survey. If applicable, please take complete this online survey to provide feedback by December 19.

Questions may be emailed to HCPSS Director of Procurement Robert Bruce at robert_bruce1@hcpss.org.

Do you work with an outstanding English Language Development (ELD) teacher or administrator who goes above and beyond in making a difference in the lives of our multilingual learners? Nominate them for the ELD Teacher of the Year award or the ELD Administrator of the Year award.

The nomination window is open through Jan. 31, 2026. The award is open to ELD teachers and administrators at all levels. Full details, including eligibility requirements and nomination forms, are available in Canvas. 

As we move into winter, staff are reminded of the HCPSS emergency notification procedures, including during inclement weather. A similar message to families will be sent today as well.

HCPSS operating status options are:

• Schools open as scheduled
• Schools open on a two-hour delay
• Schools dismiss early (90-minutes or 3 hours)
• Schools closed

Staff reporting details during an emergency can be found online at status.hcpss.org/status-codes.

IMPORTANT! It is the responsibility of each staff member to check one of the HCPSS notification sources for closing information.

In emergency situations, information will be shared with the community through the HCPSS website, email and text, and the HCPSS hotline. These are the ONLY approved sources for emergency notifications. 

• HCPSS Status website
• HCPSS homepage
• HCPSS community email/text alert
• HCPSS Information Hotline (410-313-6666)

Staff who also are parents in the system are already signed up to receive email/text notifications. All other staff are strongly encouraged to subscribe to HCPSS notifications. Otherwise, it is the staff member’s responsibility to check one of the above notification sources for closing information.

Please Note: 

• Staff who previously subscribed and are not receiving HCPSS emails/texts, should not create a new account. Email webmaster@hcpss.org with any issues.
• If you are unsure if you have already opted in to text messaging, text the word “YES” to 67587.
• Unsubscribing from any school or district email or text will unsubscribe a user from all messaging, including emergency notifications.

To subscribe or edit your subscription:

• Staff email/text sign up
• Manage your subscription (non-HCPSS parents/guardians)

If you contribute to a 403(b) plan and would like to make a change to the amount you currently contribute, those changes must be submitted no later than December 5, 2025, for all remaining 2025 paycheck dates. Any changes submitted after December 5, 2025 will take effect in your January 2, 2026 paycheck.

Instructions on changing your 403(b) deduction can be found here: Workday Instructions for 403(b) Plans

Beginning 1/1/2026 under Secure Act 2.0, new IRS rules will impact all HCPSS 403(b) plans. All 403(b) plans will be required to offer a post-tax Roth account. Additionally, there are changes to the catch-up provision for employees ages 50 and older. The new catch-up provision will be as follows:

• Individuals ages 50-59 can contribute an additional $8,000 annually in catch-up
• Individuals ages 60-63 can contribute an additional $11,250 annually in catch-up
• Individuals ages 64+ can contribute an additional $8,000 annually in catch-up 

Individuals earning $145,000 or more must make any elected catch-up contributions to their Roth (post-tax) account. Workday will be configured to ensure that employees do not exceed their maximum allowable contributions, and follow IRS rules for catch-up contributions.

Email Benefits@hcpss.org with any questions.

Do you work with an exceptional school psychologist? The Howard County School Psychology Association (HCSPA) is seeking nominations for HCPSS School Psychologist of the Year. Please consider nominating a colleague who embodies the qualities of an outstanding school psychologist. 

The HCSPA School Psychologist of the Year will be announced in mid-January and will serve as the Howard County nominee for Maryland School Psychologist of the Year Award.

Complete details, including a nomination link, can be found online.

HCPSS staff interested in working for the Innovative Pathways Evening Program for the Spring 2026 semester are invited to complete this online Hiring Interest Survey. 

Please review the Innovative Pathways Evening Program Overview before completing the survey. Additional information can be found on the Innovative Pathways Evening Program webpage.

Please note the following:

• The hiring survey will remain open until all positions are filled.
• Completion of the interest survey is NOT a formal offer of temporary employment.
• Program staff will review the information and follow-up with references as needed. 

Questions can be emailed to Kimesha Parker or Angelena Johnson, or call 410-313-6627.