HCPSS Switches To All Virtual Instruction Due To Coronavirus

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Howard County Public School System has suspended all in-person instruction and ordered students to return to a full virtual setting starting Thursday. There will be no change to meal services, which will continue at all school meals locations. All in-person special education assessments and appointments are suspended. The Dec. 5 administration of the SAT and the Dec. 12 administration of the ACT also are canceled at HCPSS locations.

The decision was made based upon health metrics across the county. On Monday, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball revealed that Howard County has surpassed a 5 percent coronavirus test positivity rate and has a case rate of more than 19 per 100,000. These metrics push HCPSS into a much higher risk of the coronavirus being spread in school buildings, officials noted.

The county’s health metrics will be reevaluated Nov. 30. HCPSS will communicate a plan for resuming in-person opportunities as soon as the health environment allows, officials said. The first day that in-person opportunities could possibly resume would be Dec. 3.