Harford Co. Schools Announce Schedule Change For Rest Of The Week

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Officials announced Wednesday that Harford County Public Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday. There won't be any after school or evening activities.

"We anticipate schools will be open and accessible next week. Families should plan ahead for safe travel if sidewalks or routes near their homes have not yet been cleared," stated HCPS spokesperson Jillian Lader.

The decision to close is made by the superintendent of schools as early as possible. If a closure or delay is necessary on the day of an inclement weather event, efforts will be made to distribute that information by 5 a.m. The determination is made after consulting with the state police, the HCPS transportation office, the sheriff’s office, the state and county highway departments and other sources of information in different parts of the county, according to school officials.

Any change from the normal school schedule as a result of inclement weather will be communicated through our rapid telephone notification system, email, text message, Facebook, Twitter and provided to radio and television stations for broadcast. In addition, changes to the normal schedule will be listed on the HCPS website at www.hcps.org.

Some weather conditions make it advisable to delay the opening time of schools. In such situations, the delayed prekindergarten plan will be in effect for half day programs.

If schools are delayed one hour, morning half-day prekindergarten will start at 10 a.m.; afternoon half-day prekindergarten will proceed as originally scheduled; and fourth tier schools will begin at 10:30 a.m. Full day kindergarten programs will follow the school system schedule.

If schools are delayed two hours, there will be no morning half-day prekindergarten or early intervention programs; afternoon half-day prekindergarten will proceed as originally scheduled; and fourth tier schools will begin at 11:30 a.m. Full day prekindergarten programs will follow the school system schedule.

If schools have a scheduled teachers’ planning/early dismissal and there is a two-hour delay, students will not be dismissed early but remain in school for the regular school day.

Parents/guardians always have the right to not send their children to school if they feel travel conditions are unsafe, school officials stated, and the student will be marked as lawfully absent.