8th Grade Families: Explore Your Student’s Future!

This fall, Harford County Public Schools is hosting Magnet and Technical Program Open Houses! Join us to learn more about specialized programs that match your student’s interests and career goals.

Open House Dates and Locations
(All 6:00–8:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted)

• Wednesday, October 15 – Joppatowne High School, JROTC and P-TECH

• Thursday, October 16 – TUNE Center at Harford Community College, Teacher Academy of Maryland

• Tuesday, October 21 – Edgewood High School, Global Studies/IB

• Wednesday, October 22 – Aberdeen High School, Science and Mathematics Academy

• Saturday, October 25, 8:30–10:00 a.m. – North Harford High School, Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences

• Monday, October 27 – Havre de Grace High School, Information Technology Oracle Academy

• Wednesday, November 5 – Harford Technical High School, Various Career Programs

The application window for Magnet and Technical Programs opens soon!
Learn more and start planning for next year: hcps.org/schools/magnetprograms

Students in grades 3–12 will have the opportunity to take the optional Wellness Needs Assessment between October 20 and November 17, 2025. The assessment helps HCPS learn how to better support students. Families who do not want their child to participate should contact their child’s school counselor by October 13, 2025. Click here to see a copy of the Wellness Needs Assessment. 

Students who participated in the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments in the Spring of 2025 will receive their individual score reports the week of October 6, 2025. Reports will be sent home by each student’s school and provide information about student performance. Families with questions about their student’s scores should contact their school directly.

Meal benefit applications may be filed at any time during the year - if your family has been impacted by the Federal Government shutdown and furloughs, please utilize the Free and Reduced-Priced meal application to apply for meal support due to the sudden loss of income. Click here to apply online.

Please refer to these important dates for the upcoming basketball season at ABMS

HCRASC commUNITY in Motion 5K & Family Fun Run – Saturday, October 18 

The Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils (HCRASC) invites families and community members to participate in the commUNITY in Motion 5K and 1 Mile Family Fun Run. This student-run event will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Harford Technical High School in Bel Air. Gates open at 9:00 AM and the race starts at 10:00 AM. 

Join HCRASC for a morning of fitness, fun, and community while supporting HCPS student leaders. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Upper Chesapeake Health for Breast Cancer Care. 

Registration fees are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Children under 5-years-old are free. Click here to register. 

The Board of Education of Harford County will hold Engage for Education listening sessions throughout the 2025–2026 school year. The first session is Tuesday, September 30, 2025, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the C. Milton Wright High School auditorium.

These sessions are an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts on the future of education in Harford County directly with Board members. No pre-registration is required to attend or speak.

More information, including how to provide feedback if you cannot attend, is available on the Engage for Education page at hcps.org.

HCPS schools will dismiss three hours early for students on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Please note: half-day Pre-K will not meet on early dismissal days. The full 2025–2026 school year calendar is available by clicking here.

Several of our Community School Specialists joined local partners on Monday, September 15, 2025, to revitalize the community garden at Crosspoint Community Church as part of the 2025 Baltimore Ravens Caw to Action program. The event highlighted teamwork, collaboration, and the power of schools and communities working together to support students and families.

The week of September 14–20, 2025 is Community School Coordinator Week. At HCPS, our Community School Specialists play an essential role in helping students succeed. They connect families with food, clothing, and housing supports, organize school-based events and programs, and build partnerships that bring valuable resources into our schools. By removing barriers to learning, our specialists make it possible for students to focus on their education and thrive.

This week, HCPS joins schools across the country in celebrating the power of the arts in education. From music and theater to visual and digital arts, the arts inspire creativity, build confidence, and help students discover their voices.

Harford County Public Schools will host Magnet and Technical Programs Information Nights for families of 7th and 8th grade students. Each event begins at 6:00 p.m., and presentations are identical, so you only need to attend one.

Dates and Locations:

• Wednesday, September 24, 2025 – Magnolia Middle & Patterson Mill Middle

• Thursday, September 25, 2025 – Havre de Grace Middle & Southampton Middle

• Tuesday, September 30, 2025 – Aberdeen Middle & North Harford Middle

Programs highlighted include: International Baccalaureate (IB) and Global Studies, Harford Technical High School Career Programs, IT Oracle Academy, JROTC, Natural Resources and Agricultural Science (NRAS), P-TECH, Science and Mathematics Academy (SMA), and the Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM).

Click here for more information on the Harford County Public Schools Magnet and Technical Programs.

Join the Harford County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) for their monthly meeting on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Networking begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting from 7:00–8:30 p.m.
The agenda includes a Co-Chair Election, Meet Your SECAC, and an HCPS Special Education presentation.
This meeting will be held virtually.
Click here to register.

The following is being shared with families who have Kindergarten students in HCPS, on behalf of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE):

This fall your student will take the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA). The KRA is an assessment that measures a student's knowledge, skills, and abilities in literacy, mathematics, and social and emotional development. It is given to all kindergarten students enrolled in public schools in Maryland by October 10th each year. The purpose of the KRA is to provide teachers and caregivers with information about what students know and can do, as well as to identify areas where they might need additional support. The assessment has three components:

• Star Early Literacy - 10-minute computer adaptive assessment of early literacy skills
• Star Math – 15-minute computer adaptive assessment of math skills
• SAEBRS (Social Academic Emotional Behavior Risk Screen) – 19-question survey completed based on
teacher observation

Most students will take the literacy and mathematics components of the KRA on a computer or tablet. The test will be read out loud to students who will use a mouse or touchscreen to select answers. Paper tests, ASL interpretation, and other accommodations are available for students who need them. Teachers will complete the social and emotional component of the assessment after spending the first few weeks of school getting to know students and completing observations.

Caregivers will receive information about how their student performed after the assessment has been administered. The results provide information about a student's mastery of the content and skills that will support their success in kindergarten. Performance on the KRA does not prevent a child from entering or remaining in kindergarten. The KRA results are only one piece of data, and scores should be understood in the context of other information, including feedback from a student’s teacher.

If you have questions about the KRA please speak with your student’s teacher.

Sincerely,
Erika McCrea
Executive Director of State Assessments

Reminders and important info to start the 2025-2026 school year:

• The Back to School Checklist includes links to all the required and optional documents to start your school year!

• The Student Handbook is a great resource for students, parents, and guardians.

• The new webpage, Stay Connected with Your Student’s Learning, was made to help parents and guardians connect directly to their student’s curriculum and understand options to support their child’s learning. This includes the process to follow for opting out of specific elements of the curriculum.