News

Due to recent legislation to the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act, the HCPSS Benefits Office is informing staff of upcoming changes as to how 1095-C forms will be distributed.

Previously, HCPSS was required to automatically provide employees with Form 1095-C each year. As a result of changes in federal law, HCPSS is now only required to furnish the form to employees within 30 days if requested. This form is not required to file your taxes.

What is Form 1095-C?
Form 1095-C provides information about the health insurance coverage HCPSS offered during the year.

How to Request Your Form 1095-C:
Staff can request the form by:

• Emailing benefits@hcpss.org
• Calling 410-313-7333

 The Benefits Office will provide the Form 1095-C within 30 days of your request.

Starting March 2, HCPSS Google authentication (Sign in with Google) will be turned off for select third-party applications for student accounts only.

There is no impact to staff Google sign-in access at this time. Staff will continue to use Google authentication as they currently do.

Before this change takes effect, here’s what you need to know: 

• This change applies to students only.
• After the turn-off date, students will not be able to access certain third-party applications using their HCPSS Google credentials.
• Students will be notified of this change via the Student Newsletter and a Canvas banner.

Approved applications that will continue to allow student Google sign-in include:

• List of Approved Apps for Google authentication

If students have files, projects, or other data saved in an app that will no longer support student Google authentication, they should download, transfer, or archive their content prior to February 27, 2026. Once authentication is disabled, access to those accounts may be discontinued.

Applications are now open for 10 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.

Howard County Council Bill 14-2023 established the Student Loan Assistance Program for HCPSS teachers. The program provides $225,000 per year for five years to help eligible certificated HCPSS staff repay their student loans.

To be eligible for funding through the Student Loan Assistance Program, an HCPSS employee must meet the following the criteria:

• Be a current, full-time, permanent HCPSS employee
• Be covered by the Howard County Education Association (HCEA) certificated bargaining unit
• Have received a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
• Have been employed with the HCPSS full-time for a total of at least 5 years
• Possesses one of the following certifications:
  • Professional Eligibility Certificate (PEC)
  • Standard Professional Certificate I (SPC I)
  • Standard Professional Certificate II (SPC II)
  • Advanced Professional Certificate (APC)
  • Conditional Certificate (CND)
  • Initial Professional License (IPL)
  • Advanced Professional License (APL)
  • Conditional License (CL)
  • Conditional Special Education License (CSL)
• Not currently in default on any of their student loans
• Have incurred at least $20K in student loan debt for any education loan used for undergraduate or graduate study obtained for tuition, educational expenses, or living expenses
• Have a remaining balance of $5K or more on their student loan

Applications for the Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program will be accepted between February 2 and April 10, 2026. The application can be found here and is also posted on the Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program website.

The amount of money awarded to each applicant will be determined by the Howard County Government. Applicants will receive an email no later than May 29, 2026 outlining the amount of their award.

More information about the Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program is available in these FAQs and on the HCPSS website.

Should you require assistance, please email TeachersLoanAssistance@hcpss.org with your inquiry.

Please note this message is being shared with all staff for awareness; however the details below currently are applicable to school staff.

We are excited to announce that beginning with Quarter 3, effective Monday, Jan. 26, all schools will have access to the paid version of the TalkingPoints messaging platform to connect with families through two-way, translated communication. 

The application had previously been available only to Title 1 and Community Schools and is being made available districtwide to better support more effective and accessible communication. Using the TalkingPoints paid version, student and parent/guardian information is pulled automatically from Synergy, ensuring contact information is accurate and protecting the privacy of students and families.

For those unfamiliar with the platform, TalkingPoints is a nonprofit education technology organization. Staff can use a web browser or mobile app to send/receive a message to parents/guardians, which they can receive via text or mobile app. Parents/guardians may receive/send communication in the language they identified in HCPSS Connect Synergy (Family File) and can change this in the TalkingPoints mobile app. No matter the parent/guardian selected language, messages are transmitted back to staff in English. 

At this point, TalkingPoints will not replace any of the current messaging platforms staff use to communicate with parents/guardians. Instead, it is a new tool staff may choose to use to engage in two-way conversations via text message/mobile app. To help guide you on the various options, the HCPSS Communications Department has a new resource on the various communications platforms available online. 

! Important !

This is not a required communications tool. Effective Jan. 26, access to TalkingPoints will be available for those who choose to use it. The HCPSS Communications Department has information on, and resources for using TalkingPoints available in Canvas.

Please note:

• Staff Who Have Been Using TalkingPoints’ PAID Version - There is no change for the Title I and Community Schools staff who have been on the paid version of TalkingPoints. You may continue using it as you have been.
• Staff Who Have Been Using TalkingPoints’ FREE Version - You may continue using TalkingPoints as before. Your home screen will look different, as you will have access to features not included in the free version, but the overall functionality will be the same. The most important change is that with the paid version, your students, parent/guardian contacts as well as home language, and classes will sync automatically from Synergy. Any edits to phone numbers will have to be made in Synergy/Family File. Your sending number also will change. If you have any message history that you wish to save, follow these steps to download a conversation. You should message your families and let them know that you will be switching to an upgraded version of TalkingPoints and future communications will come from a new number. A draft message to families is available for your use.
• Staff Who Have Not Used TalkingPoints - If you choose to use the TalkingPoints application, you should first communicate to families about this new tool. A draft messages to families are available in Canvas, and TalkingPoints provides translated flyers for new users. 

Staff have long asked for an approved digital tool for two-way communication, and we are pleased to provide a solution that also will better help meet the needs of our multilingual families. That being said, transitioning to a new tool can be overwhelming for many people. If you choose to use TalkingPoints, we encourage you to take advantage of the training resources available and take your time to learn the platform.

Technical support for TalkingPoints is available through the TalkingPoints Help site. General questions may be directed to communications@hcpss.org.

HCPSS staff may now access the Halo Information Technology (IT) Support Portal directly from the Staff Hub. 

Click the Halo Support Portal button on the Staff Hub and follow the prompts to submit all your IT support requests quicky and efficiently. 

Staff may also continue to call 410.313.7004 to speak with an IT Technology Support staff member or email TechSupport@hcpss.org.

Box 1-Wages, tips, and other compensation. This amount is your YTD Gross Pay LESS health/dental/vision insurance; and Health Care Spend; Box 10 - Dependent care benefits; Box 12 – Code E 403(b) and Code G 457(b); Box 14 - Retirement/pension; PLUS Box 12 – Code C tax cost for group-term life insurance coverage over $50,000. The amounts are found on your final 2025 pay stub and your W-2.

Box 3-Social security wages (maximum $176,100). This amount is your YTD Gross Pay LESS health/dental/vision insurance; and Health Care Spend; Box 10 - Dependent care benefits; PLUS Box 12 – Code C tax cost for group-term life insurance coverage over $50,000. The amounts are found on your final 2025 pay stub and your W-2.

Box 5-Medicare wages and tips (no maximum). This amount is your YTD Gross Pay LESS health/dental/vision insurance; and Health Care Spend; Box 10 - Dependent care benefits; PLUS Box 12 – Code C tax cost for group-term life insurance coverage over $50,000. The amounts are found on your final 2025 pay stub and your W-2.

Box 10-Dependent care benefits - deduction for 2025.

Box 12-Adjustments to wages (amounts added/subtracted). 

• Code C Taxable cost of group-term life insurance over $50,000. The taxable cost of the life insurance premium for more than $50,000. Coverage is paid by HCPSS.
• Code E Elective deferrals under section 403(b) salary reduction agreement. Deductions are exempt from federal and Maryland income taxes. Non-Maryland residents should check the income tax regulations for their states.
• Code G 457(b) Elective deferrals to any 457(b) deferred compensation plan. Deductions are exempt from Federal and Maryland income taxes.
• Code DD Cost of employer-sponsored health coverage. The amount reported with Code DD is not taxable.
• Code EE Roth Designated Roth contributions under a governmental section 457(b) plan. The amount reported with Code EE is a post-tax deduction and does not reduce taxable wages.

Box 13-Retirement plan. This box will be marked if you were an “active” participant in the retirement/pension plans during any part of the calendar year, or if you had 403(b) or 457 (b) deductions.

Box 14-Other (amounts added/subtracted from gross wages). 

• Code FRINGE – Auto allowance/commuting tax has been included in your YTD Gross Pay.
• Code OTPREM – Qualified overtime (overtime premium paid via salary vouchers)
• Code OTPREM.5 – Qualified overtime (.5 premium portion of overtime hours worked)
• Code STPICKUP - State Retirement/Pension Employee Contribution has been subtracted from gross wages in box 1 only. This data is being provided for information purposes only. The amount shown has already been deducted from Box 1—Wages, tips, other compensation.
  • District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia residents only: Code STPICKUP displays employee contributions, if any, to the state retirement/pension systems.
  • Maryland residents only: Code STPICKUP Maryland state retirement pickup amount $X,XXX.XX. If you are a member of the retirement/pension systems and are receiving a Maryland W-2, the display of this item is for the Maryland State Income Tax Division. While this amount is deferred for federal purposes, it is not for the state of Maryland. The Maryland state income tax return requires federal adjusted gross income to be used as a starting point. The state pickup amount is added back to gross income at a different point within your Maryland state income tax return.

Box 16–State Wages, Tips, etc. 

• Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia Residents: Although an amount is shown, these states/district annual income tax forms require the federal adjusted gross income from your completed federal income tax form to be used as the starting point to obtain the required state/district starting gross income data.
• Pennsylvania residents: The W-2s will display a state gross amount in Box 16 because Pennsylvania taxable income regulations do not adhere to federal regulation.

Box 17-State income tax: State and local income tax withholdings have been added together to obtain total taxes and are displayed in Box 17.

Important Information: 

• W-2 totals are based on the calendar year
• Final pay stubs are based on the calendar year
• Your “Compensation” shown in Workday is based on fiscal year.
• Your “Compensation” shown in Workday is your gross base and any additional allowance plans. Please note this does not reflect other types of wages that would be included in your taxable wages.

On Tuesday, Jan. 27, HCPSS will activate a new Lightspeed feature that will allow teachers using Lightspeed Classroom to restrict the number of browser tabs students may have open during a class session. The feature sets the maximum number of tabs students may open to 50 at any time. This feature does not impact the number of tabs staff members may open. This information will be shared with students on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Teacher Controls 

In Lightspeed Classroom teachers may control the number of tabs students may open during their class to provide additional structure to support focus and minimize off-task behavior. Because this setting is applied at the classroom level, student experiences may vary based on teacher settings. Directions to limit tabs in Lightspeed Classroom 

Default Setting 

The district default for student tabs is set to 50 open tabs both during and after school. This default is intended to support student productivity, device performance, and digital well-being while allowing flexibility for instructional needs.

Common Student Use Cases 

Feedback has highlighted several appropriate and productive ways students may be using multiple tabs, including: 

• Keeping multiple assignment-related resources open at the same time
• Using tab groups to organize current and upcoming work
• Keeping frequently used tools open (e.g., Canvas Calendar, Canvas Grades, Google Drive, Clever)
• Navigating instructional platforms that automatically open links in new tabs 

Instructional Considerations

Some students benefit from additional limits to help maintain focus during instructional time. The activation of this feature also reflects feedback from parents and educators requesting tools to help reduce access to non-instructional websites during class.

Please note, students should be mindful of the number of tabs they are using. If the maximum number of tabs is already opened and additional tabs are opened, the oldest tabs open will immediately close. If there is unsaved work on these tabs, it will be lost. This action cannot be undone.

Considerations 

• Instructional Context: When adjusting tab limits, consider lesson design, student independence, and task complexity.
• Communication: If applying a more restrictive tab limit, communicating the change and its purpose to students in advance may help reduce confusion or disruption to student workflows.
• Professional Judgment: Teachers are encouraged to use professional judgment when determining whether a lower tab limit supports learning goals.

If you are not currently using Lightspeed Classroom to monitor and support student learning, learn more about the system in the Lightspeed Classroom training module.

The 2025 electronic W-2s are now available in Workday for those who elected to receive electronic copies only. Instructions on how to view or print W-2s are available in Canvas and attached.

For staff who elected to receive both electronic and paper copies, electronic W-2s will be available January 30. Paper copies of the W-2s will be mailed via USPS and postmarked no later than Jan. 31. If you would like access to your 2025 electronic copy sooner, please make the electronic only election. Once this selection is made, you will have immediate access.

The Office of Teacher and Paraprofessional Development and the Howard County Education Association are pleased to announce the launch of the School-Based Peer Learning Guide Program for the remainder of the 2025–2026 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 for first round consideration by Friday, January 16, 2026.  A second round of applications will be accepted on or before Friday, January 30, 2026.
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 January 16, 2026 if you are applying in the first round and by January 30, 2026 if you are applying for the second round. (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.

Novice Teacher Participation

Teachers in years 1–3 in HCPSS are encouraged to complete the Novice Teacher Interest Form no later than January 30, 2026 to be considered for a Peer Learning Guide partnership. We will do our best to match teachers with a Peer Learning Guide in their content area, grade level, and/or school location. 

Peer Learning Guides will work alongside new educators to strengthen instructional effectiveness and understanding of HCPSS systems. Supports may include:

• Navigating and planning with curriculum standards and approved materials.
• Co-planning high-quality lessons with aligned outcomes, assessments, and strategies.
• Supporting culturally responsive and inclusive instructional practices.
• Interpreting assessment data to inform next steps.
• Developing rubrics, success criteria, and student self-assessment tools.
• Connecting novice teachers with relevant school-based or central office supports.
• Modeling collaboration, reflective practice, and a growth mindset.
• Assisting with understanding school procedures, expectations, and routines.
• Offering strategies for managing workload, organization, and maintaining well-being.

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