News

The HCPSS 2026-2027 academic calendar is available online to view and/or subscribe to, and is updated to include staff professional learning and/or workdays. A list of key days also is posted and a printable, one-pager of those dates is forthcoming.

An online print option will be available by August 1. Prior to that, you can subscribe and add the calendar to your Outlook or personal online calendar and print from that platform.

To print the online calendar by month:

1. Subscribe to the calendar/add the calendar to the personal online calendar of your choosing (Google, Outlook, etc.)
2. From your personal calendar, check only the HCPSS calendar and follow your provider’s directions to print.

In addition, 2026-2027 Elementary School Related Arts Color and Secondary A/B calendars are forthcoming and will be added to the HCPSS online calendar as soon as they are available.

The Office of Teacher and Paraprofessional Development and the Howard County Education Association are pleased to continue the School-Based Peer Learning Guide Program in the 2026–2027 school year.

This program pairs teachers in years 1-3 in HCPSS with an experienced, tenured teacher who provides targeted, collaborative instructional support. Below is more information about how to request the support of, or serve as a Peer Learning Guide. 

Peer Learning Guides (PLGs)

Peer Learning Guides (PLGs) are Highly Effective (rated), tenured HCPSS teachers with a minimum of five years of teaching experience. Each Peer Learning Guide is paired with a teacher in years 1-3 in HCPSS and receives a $500 honorarium as well as Professional Development Points (PDPs) for their participation in required learning activities. To learn more about the responsibilities of a Peer Learning Guide, review the Peer Learning Guide Role sheet.  

Interested teachers must: 

1. Submit this Peer Learning Guide application by Friday, July 31.
2. Request and ensure submission of two recommendation forms, one from either a school-based administrator or Curriculum Coordinator and one from a professional colleague, both of which must be submitted by July 31. (It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure recommendations have been submitted.) The recommendations should speak to the applicant’s ability to demonstrate deep knowledge of curriculum and instructional strategies, support new teachers with confidence and care, and foster a positive, inclusive learning environment that promotes continuous improvement. Please note that all recommendations remain confidential, and applicants will not have access to the information submitted.  
3. Peer Learning Guides will be expected to complete the Mentoring & Coaching Suite: Reflective Practice & Foundations Course (6-hour, asynchronous Canvas course) before engaging in mentoring a teacher in years 1-3 in HCPSS. If you have already completed the Developing Mentoring and Coaching Suite: Developing your Practice and/or Proficient Mentoring and Coaching Suite: Advanced Coaching for Impact this requirement will be waived.

Questions about the School-Based Peer Learning Guide Program or how to apply may be emailed to Patricia Otero at patricia_otero@hcpss.org. 

Circular #0006 Policies 4040, 6030, 7140, 9080, 9460 is now available online.

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 circular is added or updated, staff will be notified via Staff Hub post/email. 

Circulars are available anytime in Canvas (staff login required), which can be accessed from the Staff Hub under the Services dropdown menu, or Hub homepage Featured Applications button.

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, the Division of Academics is excited to offer a variety of summer professional learning opportunities designed to support educators, leaders, and support staff. These opportunities align with key district priorities, including strengthening Tier 1 instruction, building a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), supporting specialized programming, and implementing Maryland's literacy and mathematics initiatives.

This summer's offerings include both paid and voluntary professional learning sessions tailored to a variety of roles across HCPSS. Participants will have opportunities to deepen their understanding of instructional practices, collaborative structures, student support systems, and content-specific initiatives that will help prepare schools for a successful start to the school year.

We encourage all staff to review the Summer Professional Learning Flyer for highlights and visit the Summer Professional Learning Guide for a complete list of learning opportunities, session descriptions, registration information, and important updates for the 2026–2027 school year. Whether you are looking to strengthen your instructional practice, learn more about MTSS, participate in literacy and mathematics learning, complete required professional learning, or explore role-specific opportunities, there is something for everyone.

Thank you for your continued commitment to professional growth and student success. We look forward to learning alongside you this summer.

Circular #1011 ESP 10- and 11 month Employees Work Year Circular 2026-2027 has been updated and is posted online.

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 circular is added or updated, staff will be notified via Staff Hub post/email. 

Circulars are available anytime in Canvas (staff login required), which can be accessed from the Staff Hub under the Services dropdown menu, or Hub homepage Featured Applications button.

The free weekly virtual yoga sessions offered on Wednesdays by Bluebird Yoga and Wellness are on hiatus for the summer. Sessions will resume in September 2026.

As you prepare for the end of the school year, please review the below staff technology reminders. 

Staff who will not be returning to work for HCPSS next school year:

• Staff who are leaving and are assigned HCPSS devices, including laptops, cell phones and tablets, must return those devices to HCPSS by their last day of employment. Devices can be returned to the school’s library media specialist or elementary technology teacher, or taken to the Logistics Center 9645 Gerwig Lane, Columbia, MD 21046, Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Staff devices collected by offices or schools should be returned to the Technology Department. A Halo Pickup/Move ticket should be entered indicating what devices are being returned and where they are being securely stored. 
  • Staff who will not return next school year but will continue to work in a temporary capacity over the summer (summer programs) may return their device(s) at the conclusion of their temporary assignment.
• Active Directory accounts will be suspended once a person no longer works for HCPSS. Staff who are leaving who wish to have copies of non proprietary materials they created, in Google, O365 or other, must download the files prior to their last day of work. Access will not be provided after their account is suspended. They must not take proprietary or confidential information including documents containing student personally identifiable information (PII) .

Temporary Staff

• Daily substitute teachers and other temporary staff who are not working over the summer should return their assigned device and charger to the Library Media Specialist, Elementary Technology Teacher or Technology Support at the Central Office so that they may be returned to the Logistics Center.  A Halo Pickup/Move ticket should be entered indicating what devices are being returned and where they are being securely stored. 

Staff Support Over the Summer 

• If issues arise with your HCPSS-issued technology over the summer, call 410-313-7004 or email techsupport@hcpss.org.
• Store your assigned computer so that it will not be damaged, and take appropriate precautions to prevent damage, loss or theft. Report any damage immediately by calling 410-313-7004 or email techsupport@hcpss.org. 

Multi-factor Authentication Reminder

• Staff who replace their mobile phone over the summer and use it for Duo MFA should use the directions under the heading “I lost, replaced, or don’t have my mobile device or security key…” to remove their old phone and add their new phone to MFA.

Questions may be directed to Technology Support at TechSupport@hcpss.org or 410.313.7004.

Applications are now open for Secondary English Language Arts Lead Teachers and establishing a Lead Teacher Pool aligned with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future for the 2026-2027 school year.

Working under the direction of the building principal, the Lead Teacher is an expert educator who serves as a school-based instructional leader, providing both direct instruction to students and instructional support to teachers. This role focuses on improving instructional quality by providing job-embedded professional learning, including collaboration, mentoring, and coaching. The Lead Teacher is integral in fostering equity, inclusivity, and reflective practice across the school community, ensuring better outcomes for students and teachers. A Lead Teacher shall teach in the classroom on average 40% of the teacher’s working time; and spend the remaining time on other teacher activities, including mentoring newer and struggling teachers, and leading workshops and demonstrations at the school level. This is subject to change based on Blueprint legislation.

National Board Certification is a requirement of this position. Teachers with strong experiences in elementary and secondary English/Language Arts and Mathematics will  be prioritized, along with those who have experience teaching in schools that represent the demographic and socioeconomic diversity of HCPSS or have worked in Title I, CSI (comprehensive support and improvement), and/or community schools. This position includes a $5000 supplement that stacks on top of other NBC supplements for which the teacher is eligible.

Current permanent employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday.

All staff are invited to share your perspective on the Blueprint for Maryland's Future via a brief online survey.

The survey is part of an ongoing evaluation of Blueprint, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) on behalf of the Accountability and Implementation Board. It is part of a statewide study and asks about Blueprint-related changes in your work or experiences with schools, students, families, or communities. 

Take the survey 

See attached for more.

In accordance with FY26 Circular #3002, all employee expense reimbursement requests related to FY26 must be submitted and fully approved by July 15, 2026, to ensure expenses are recorded in the correct fiscal year.

Please note that any expense reports initiated in July 2026 for FY26 expenses must be post-dated to June 30, 2026.

Employees and approvers are encouraged to review and complete all pending expense reports as soon as possible to avoid processing delays.