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.

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.

The salary payment option update timeframe will be June 1, 2026 – July 31, 2026. This annual opportunity allows 10-month employees who would like to change their current election to select either a 10-month or 12-month salary option for the upcoming school year. Eligible employees will receive a Workday notification to perform the update.

Please note:

• If you wish to continue your current pay option, NO action is required.
• If you wish to change your current pay option, the salary payment option election must be completed no later than July 31, 2026. Please note that Workday will be updated with your new pay option no sooner than August 13, 2026.

Employees can find their current pay option in Workday, following these directions:

1. Log into Workday (Staff Hub > Services dropdown > Workday)
2. Select your profile picture at the far right and then select view profile
3. Select Job from the left side blue navigation menu
4. Select the Organizations tab at the top
5. Your current pay option displays in the first line 
    

Employees can now view their personalized Total Rewards Statement in Workday. This statement provides a comprehensive view of the full value of your employment with HCPSS; including base salary, employer paid benefits, FICA, and pension contributions. Within Workday, you can review a personalized breakdown that includes:

• Total Compensation (base pay and any applicable incentives)
• Employer-Paid Benefits (such as health insurance and benefits credits)
• Employer Contributions to FICA
• Employer Contributions to your pension

Together, these elements represent your Total Rewards, giving you a clearer picture of the overall value you receive as part of your employment.

To view your statement:

1. Log in to Workday
2. Navigate to your profile
3. Select the “Compensation” section
4. Click on “Total Rewards”

We encourage you to take a few minutes to review your statement and better understand the full scope of your total compensation. For questions about your compensation, please contact humanresources@hcpss.org, for questions about your benefits please contact benefits@hcpss.org, for questions about employer contribution to FICA, please contact payroll@hcpss.org, and for questions about employer contribution to your pension, please contact HRRetirement@hcpss.org.

Several circulars recently have been posted/updated:

• #0004 – Policies 1070, 3000 & 9050; Updates for 7070 IP & 8080 IP
• #0005 – Campaign Activities by Staff on School Property
• #0011 – Religious Cultural Observances 2026-2027
• #4003 – 2026-2027 Furnishing School Book Covers

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.

Several new features are now available in theLightspeed Parent Portal that increase parental oversight at home. Parents/Guardians can now create internet activity schedules, block specific groups of websites and create a custom block list. As a reminder, settings created by parents in the portal are active when students are logged into HCPSS Chromebooks off the school system’s network. Learn about all the features of the Lightspeed Parent Portal on the HCPSS website and direct parents to the website to learn how they can sign up.  

As a reminder, Lightspeed Classroom is a software application that allows teachers, during specified timeframes, to control how a student uses their HCPSS-issued Chromebook, including viewing student screens, sharing resources, locking devices, reviewing class activity, and restricting some non-instructional sites. Teachers who wish to use the tool must complete the required Classroom Management professional learning module to ensure compliance with student data privacy policies and access, and learn how to use the application.