News

As we start off the school year, it's important to remember that Cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility. Every email you review, every password you create, and every device you secure helps protect our students, staff, and school system from cyber threats. See the details below and the attached flyer for more.

Cybersecurity Best Practices for the New School Year

Think Before You Click

• Be cautious of unexpected emails, links, or attachments.
• Verify requests involving sensitive information or financial transactions.
• When in doubt, don't click—ask first.

Protect Your Credentials

• Never share your password.
• Use strong, unique passwords.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) whenever available.

Practice Good Digital Hygiene

• Lock your computer whenever you step away.
• Keep devices updated.
• Handle student records and other confidential information carefully.
• Store files only in approved HCPSS locations.

Report Suspicious Emails Immediately

• If you receive a suspicious or phishing email, do not interact with it. Instead, forward the email immediately to abuse@hcpss.org

Call to Action: Complete Your Annual Cybersecurity Awareness Training

• All HCPSS staff are required to complete the Cybersecurity Awareness Training available in Vector at https://howard-md.safeschools.com/login (Staff Hub > Services dropdown > Vector Training)

If you have any questions or concerns regarding cybersecurity, believe you may have encountered a phishing email, or need assistance with a security-related issue, please contact Technology Support at TechSupport@hcpss.org or 410-313-7004.
 

As part of ongoing efforts to maintain network security, effective immediately, the Discord app/website is blocked for all users on the HCPSS network. Discord is not an approved digital tool and is not necessary for instructional purposes, and already was blocked for students on HCPSS devices and network.

These types of restrictions are a critical piece of ensuring safety and security of the HCPSS network, as well as protecting students and staff from cybersecurity threats. Staff are reminded to be vigilant online. Cyberawareness resources are available to all staff on the KnowBe4 website (Staff Hub > Services dropdown > KnowBe4 Cybersecurity Resources).

Beginning Monday, August 17, high school students will no longer be able to add or access personal Google/Gmail accounts to Chrome on their HCPSS-assigned Chromebooks, a restriction that is already in place for elementary and middle school devices. 

This restriction will help prevent students from bypassing the Chromebook content filter. Students will continue to have access to their HCPSS email account. While personal accounts are not required by HCPSS, some students prefer to use them in some instances that may be school-related but continued access is required after they are no longer enrolled. For example, College Board accounts are used beyond graduation to access SAT and AP scores, and many students create these accounts using their personal email accounts.

Students should consider how and when they use their personal Google/Gmail accounts and if this new restriction will cause a disruption substantial enough that they should use a different email provider. This new setting will restrict their ability on their school-issued device to read or send emails, retrieve password reset emails and access personal Google Drive files using their personal Google/Gmails accounts. They can continue to create and access other personal email accounts on their Chromebooks, such as a Microsoft, Yahoo, iCloud and others, and can continue to access their personal Google/Gmail accounts on personal technology devices. 

This information is being shared with families today, and will be shared with students upon their return.

During the 2026-2027 school year, HCPSS instructional staff will engage in 20 hours of high-quality systemic professional learning (teachers and administrators) and 15 hours (Student Support Team ataff) with the goal of “Strengthening Our Culture for Learning." Strengthening Our Culture for Learning will enable educators to co-create instructional coherence through strong Tier 1 instruction for all learners, supported by evidence-based strategies, data-informed decisions, and meaningful professional discourse. Throughout the 2026-2027 school year, HCPSS systemic PL will support the implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

Staff who participate will receive professional development points (PDPs) towards licensure renewal for each session they attend. Some of these experiences will be held during HCPSS countywide professional learning days in August (3 PDPs), September (2 PDPs), October (3 PDPs), December (2 PDPs),  February (2 PDPs) and March (3 PDPs), and during six school-based program implementation periods/faculty meetings in October, November, January, February, April, and May.  Staff must pre-register for each session and sign in on the day of the event to receive PDPs. Sign-in sheets will be cross-referenced against Frontline Professional Learning Management (PLM) system registration to verify attendance, participation and award PDPs.

The courses staff must pre-register for in Frontline are:

1. Teachers, Administrators, and Student Support Staff:  HCPSS Systemic Professional Learning: Strengthening Our Culture for Learning (Countywide PL) (15 PDPs) (TPD8511) for the countywide sessions. Teachers, administrators, school psychologists, school counselors, liaisons, student engagement teachers should register on Frontline.  
2. Teachers and Administrators Only:  HCPSS Systemic Professional Learning: Strengthening Our Culture for Learning (PIP Session) (4.5 PDP) (TPD8511) for the six school-based sessions that occur during the school year. Teachers, administrators, school psychologists, school counselors, liaisons and student engagement teachers should register on Frontline.

The Instructional Resource Center (IRC) provides equipment and resources needed for staff to laminate, create posters, die cut, create instructional materials, and browse instructional aides. Paper is provided or staff may bring their own supply. There is no charge for paper, supplies, or laminating.

The IRC is located in the HCPSS Logistics Center (9645 Gerwig Lane, Columbia). The IRC can be accessed via the side entrance, and staff will need to be buzzed in. Directional signage is prominently displayed.

Special August 2026 Hours

The IRC will be open 

• Monday, August 10 from 9 a.m.-noon
• Tuesday, August 11 from noon-3 p.m., and 
• Wednesday, August 12 from 9 a.m.-noon.

During this time, no scheduling will be required to use the laminator and poster maker, with the following restrictions:

• Staff will be limited to 15-minute use of the laminator and poster maker.
• Quantities will be limited to one class set or resources.

2026-2027 School Year Hours

The IRC will fully reopen for the 2026-2027 school year on Wednesday, August 26 at 4 p.m. Regular hours of operation are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-6:30 p.m.

Please note the following:

• The IRC will be accessible to staff during the designated operating hours. For safety and liability reasons, staff may not enter the IRC at any other time.
• If schools are closed due to inclement weather or other unscheduled emergency, the IRC also will be closed.
• When bringing materials to the center to laminate, staff may make materials for one class set.
• IRC resources are to be used by school staff creating instructional resources for students. Central offices staff should work with Print Services for their materials needs.
   

Scheduled for the coming days, users to the Frontline Home Page will see a refreshed look focused on enhancing user functionality.

The new design reduces clicks and prioritizes information for action. Users will find it easier to monitor tasks, review requests, access schedules, and take action directly from a single dashboard.

Detailed information, videos, and visuals are available by logging in to Frontline from the Staff Hub homepage, selecting the Expand Navigation arrow on the left menu if it's not already open, and selecting Insights.

The 2026-2027 salary and step information is now available for employee review. Please use the attached Workday instructions to generate and review the “Compensation Review” report with your compensation information. Contact the Office of Human Resources at salaryinquiries@hcpss.org with questions. 

*NOTE: Leave balances may be accessed by viewing Time Off in Workday. This information reflects leave balances for the 2026-2027 school year.

Effective July 1, 2026, updates to the mileage reimbursement submission process will take effect for all employees.

Beginning with July mileage reimbursement submissions (submitted by August 15, 2026), employees will be required to list each trip separately on the HCPSS FIN Form 210- Mileage Log with Mileage_Calculator . Each “to and from” destination must be entered on its own line. For employees who travel to multiple locations throughout the day, a separate row should be completed for each trip being submitted for reimbursement.

Separating trips by stopping point increases transparency and consistency in reimbursement documentation and allows supervisors and the Accounting Office to more easily review submissions for accuracy and completeness. 

The HCPSS FIN Form 210- Mileage Log with Mileage_Calculator has been updated to accommodate the requested documentation change. The updated form will automatically calculate reimbursable mileage when employees enter “from” and “to” locations, including HCPSS schools and other business-related destinations. This change creates consistency among submissions by ensuring mileage is calculated using the shortest travel distance between two locations, which is the basis for HCPSS reimbursement.

These updates are intended to simplify the completion of the required documentation while improving consistency and accuracy in the reimbursement process. 

For additional information regarding mileage reimbursement, employees are encouraged to review the Expenses page in Workday Community Canvas. On this page, you will find additional resources:

• HCPSS Employee Expense Reimbursement Manual 
• Expense Reimbursement - Create an Expense Report for Mileage Reimbursemen... 
• Expense reports FAQ 
• HCPSS FIN Form 210- Mileage Log with Mileage_Calculator

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.