Status Codes

Normal Operations

Staff and students report in accordance with the HCPSS calendar. Within normal operations, due to weather conditions, outdoor activities may be brought inside, including lunch, recess, PE class, and/or after-school and community-use programs.

View HCPSS Calendar

Staff

All employees report on time, as scheduled.

Schools Open Two Hours Late

All Howard County public schools will open two hours late [DAY/DATE] due to [INSERT]. All morning sessions of half-day Pre-K and RECC are canceled. We will reevaluate conditions by 7:30 a.m. and only a change in the two-hour delay status will be communicated.

School bus pick up times will be two hours later than normal. All morning childcare programs in HCPSS schools, sponsored by the Columbia Association and the Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks, will be delayed two hours.

There will be no morning ARL classes. ARL afternoon classes will be held as scheduled.

If Howard Community College is open as scheduled, HCPSS students who are enrolled at HCC and cannot attend due to a lack of transportation should notify their professors immediately using their MyHCC email or Canvas. HCC operating status information can be found online.

[A determination regarding today’s Board of Education meeting will be made as soon as possible.]

Staff

• AFSCME: All emergency employees should report as directed by their immediate manager/supervisor.
• Executive: Employees may report 90 minutes later than their regular reporting time.
• HCASA-Admin: Employees may report to work 90 minutes later than their regular reporting time.
• HCASA-NCS Non-School Based: Employees may report to work 90 minutes later than their regular reporting time.
• HCASA-NCS School-Based: Employees may report at least 20 minutes prior to scheduled student starting time.
• HCEA 10- and 11-month: Employees may report 120 minutes later than their regular reporting time.
• HCEA 12-month: Employees may report to work 120 minutes later than their regular reporting time.
• HCEA-ESP 10- and 11-Month: Employees may report 20 minutes prior to the scheduled student starting time.
• HCEA-ESP 12-Month: Employees may report 120 minutes later than their regular starting time.
• Preparation Managers, Satellite Managers and Food Service Assistants: Employees report on time, within safety limits.

All employees, regardless of bargaining unit, designated as emergency employees should report as directed by their supervisor.

Schools Closed; Offices Open with Liberal Leave in Effect

All Howard County public schools are closed [DAY/DATE] due to [INSERT]. Offices are opening late, with liberal leave in effect.

All afternoon and evening activities involving HCPSS students and staff, as well as community-sponsored programs in HCPSS buildings are canceled.

If Howard Community College is open as scheduled, HCPSS students who are enrolled at HCC and cannot attend due to a lack of transportation should notify their professors immediately using their MyHCC email or Canvas. HCC operating status information can be found online.

[A determination regarding today’s Board of Education meeting will be made as soon as possible.]

Staff

• AFSCME: All emergency employees should report as directed by their immediate manager/supervisor.
• Executive: Employees may report 90 minutes later than regular reporting time, exercise liberal leave; or request permission to telework.
• HCASA-Admin: Employees may report 90 minutes later than regular reporting time, exercise liberal leave; or request permission to telework.
• HCASA-NCS: Employees may report 90 minutes later than regular reporting time, exercise liberal leave; or request permission to telework.
• HCEA 10- and 11-month: Employees do not report to work.
• HCEA 12-month: Employees may report 90 minutes later than regular reporting time, or exercise liberal leave.
• HCEA-ESP 10- and 11-Month: Employees do not report to work.
• HCEA-ESP 12-Month: Employees may report 120 minutes later than regular reporting time, or exercise liberal leave.

All employees, regardless of bargaining unit, designated as emergency employees should report as directed by their supervisor.

Schools and Offices Closed

All Howard County public schools and offices are closed [DAY/DATE] due to [INSERT].

All afternoon and evening activities involving HCPSS students and staff, as well as community-sponsored programs in HCPSS buildings are canceled.

If Howard Community College is open as scheduled, HCPSS students who are enrolled at HCC and cannot attend due to a lack of transportation should notify their professors immediately using their MyHCC email or Canvas. HCC operating status information can be found online.

[A determination regarding today’s Board of Education meeting will be made as soon as possible.]

Staff

• AFSCME: All emergency employees should report as directed by their immediate manager/supervisor.
• Executive: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.
• HCASA-NCS: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.
• HCEA-ESP: Designated emergency employees report as directed by their supervisor.
• No other HCPSS employees may enter an HCPSS facility.

Schools Early Dismissal

[NOTE: Options are 90-minute or 3-hour early dismissal]

All Howard County public schools will close time early [DAY/DATE] due to [INSERT]. Students will be dismissed per the unscheduled early closings departure method provided by parents/guardians in Family File.

All PM sessions of half-day Pre-K and RECC are canceled and there will be no afternoon ARL classes.

All afternoon and evening activities involving HCPSS students and staff, as well as community-sponsored programs in HCPSS buildings are canceled. Additionally, all aftercare programs in HCPSS schools, sponsored by the Columbia Association and the Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks, are canceled.

If Howard Community College is open as scheduled, HCPSS students who are enrolled at HCC and cannot attend due to a lack of transportation should notify their professors immediately using their MyHCC email or Canvas. HCC operating status information can be found online.

[A determination regarding today’s Board of Education meeting will be made as soon as possible.]

Staff

[NOTE: Options are 90-minute or 3-hour early dismissal]

• AFSCME: All emergency employees should report as directed by their immediate manager/supervisor.
• Executive: Employees may leave 30 minutes after the dismissal time of the latest school. For a 3 hour early dismissal employees may leave at 1:25 p.m. For a 90-minute early dismissal employees may leave at 2:55 p.m.
• HCASA-Admin Non-School Based: Employees may leave 30 minutes after the dismissal time of the latest school. For a 3-hour early dismissal employees may leave at 1:25 p.m. For a 90-minute early dismissal, employees may leave at 2:55 p.m.
• HCASA-Admin School-Based: Principals or designated administrator shall remain on duty until:
  • All students have left the school grounds.
  • There are no reports of buses unable to complete routes.
  • Non-essential staff have been dismissed.
  • Administrative tasks relative to early dismissal have been completed.
  • The principal may, at their discretion, release other administrators and AAM’s based on the situation at their school.
• HCASA-NCS Non-School Based: Employees may leave 30 minutes after the dismissal time of the latest school. For a 3 hour early dismissal employees may leave at 1:25 p.m. For a 90-minute early dismissal employees may leave at 2:55 p.m.
• HCASA-NCS School-Based: Employees may leave 30 minutes after student dismissal. Interpreters may be dismissed with students.
• HCEA 10- and 11-month: Teachers may leave 30 minutes after student dismissal.
• HCEA 12-month: Employees may leave 30 minutes after the dismissal time of the latest school. For a 3 hour early dismissal, employees may leave at 1:25 p.m. For a 90-minute early dismissal, employees may leave at 2:55 p.m.
• HCEA-ESP Non-School Based: Employees may leave 30 minutes after the dismissal time of the latest school. For a 3 hour early dismissal employees may leave at 1:25 p.m. For a 90-minute early dismissal employees may leave at 2:55 p.m.
• HCEA-ESP School-Based: Employees may leave 30 minutes after student dismissal. Interpreters may be dismissed with students.

All employees, regardless of bargaining unit, designated as emergency employees should report as directed by their supervisor.

Afternoon/Evening Activities Canceled

All afternoon/evening activities involving HCPSS students and staff are canceled [DAY/DATE] due to [INSERT].

Students scheduled for after-school activities will be sent home using the departure method identified in Family File for typical school days, unless parents/guardians notify the school otherwise.

All aftercare programs in HCPSS schools, sponsored by the Columbia Association and the Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks, will remain open.

All other community-sponsored programs in HCPSS buildings are canceled.

[A determination regarding today’s Board of Education meeting will be made as soon as possible.]

Saturday/Sunday/Weekend Activities Canceled

All activities involving HCPSS students and staff are canceled [DAY/DATE] due to [INSERT]. In addition, all community-sponsored programs in HCPSS buildings are canceled.

[IF APPLICABLE - SAT testing scheduled to be held in an HCPSS building is canceled.]