Status Codes

Code Green – 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.

Code Blue – Schools Open Two Hours Late

All Howard County public schools will open 2 hours late today, day/date. All morning sessions of half-day Pre-K and RECC are canceled. Offices will open late. We will reevaluate by 7:30 a.m. and any change in 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.

If there is a scheduled Board of Education meeting, a determination will be made regarding whether the meeting will be canceled or held virtually.

Staff

• AFSCME: Employees report on time, or as scheduled.
• ESP 10- and 11-Month: Employees may report at least 20 minutes prior to scheduled student starting time.
• ESP 12-Month: Employees may report 120 minutes later than regular starting time.
• Executive: Employees may report 90 minutes later than regular reporting time.
• Food/Nutrition Services: Employees report on time as scheduled, within safety limits.
• HCASA-Admin: Employees may report to work 90 minutes later than regular reporting time.
• HCASA-NCS School-Based: Employees may report at least 20 minutes prior to scheduled student starting time.
• HCASA-NCS Non-School Based: Employees may report to work 90 minutes later than regular reporting time
• HCEA 10- and 11-month: Employees may report 2 hours later than regular reporting time.
• HCEA 12-month: Employees may report to work 90 minutes later than regular reporting time.

All staff designated as emergency employees should report as directed by their supervisor.

Code Orange – Schools Closed; Offices Open with Liberal Leave in Effect

All Howard County public schools are closed today, day/date. Offices are opening late, with liberal leave in effect.

All evening activities involving HCPSS students and staff are canceled. In addition, all community-sponsored programs in HCPSS buildings are canceled.

If there is a scheduled Board of Education meeting, a determination will be made regarding whether the meeting will be canceled or held virtually.

Staff

• AFSCME: Employees report as scheduled.
• ESP 10- and 11-Month: Employees do not report to work.
• ESP 12-Month: Employees may report 120 minutes later than regular reporting time, or exercise liberal leave.
• Executive: Employees may report 90 minutes later than regular reporting time, or exercise liberal leave.
• Food/Nutrition Services: Employees do not report to work.
• HCASA-Admin: Employees may report 90 minutes later than regular reporting time, exercise liberal leave; or request permission to telework.
• HCASA-NCS 10- and 11-Month: Employees do not report to work.
• HCASA-NCS 12-Month: Employees may report 90 minutes later than regular reporting time, or exercise liberal leave.
• 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.

All staff designated as emergency employees should report as directed by their supervisor.

Code Red – Schools and Offices Closed

All Howard County public schools and offices are closed today, day/date.

All evening activities involving HCPSS students and staff are canceled. In addition, all community-sponsored programs in HCPSS buildings are canceled.

If there is a Board of Education meeting scheduled, it is canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Staff

• AFSCME: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.
• ESP: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.
• Executive: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.
• HCASA-NCS: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.
• No other HCPSS employees may enter an HCPSS facility.

Code Yellow – Schools Early Dismissal

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

All Howard County public schools will close time early today, day/date, due to reason.

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

If there is a scheduled Board of Education meeting, a determination will be made regarding whether the meeting will be canceled or held virtually.

Staff

• AFSCME: First shift employees may leave 1 hour early; Second shift employees may report 1 hour late.
• ESP School-Based: Employees may leave 30 minutes after student dismissal. Interpreters may be dismissed with students.
• 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.
• 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.
• Food/Nutrition Services: Employees may leave 30 minutes after student dismissal or when all tasks related to early dismissal have been completed.
• HCASA-Admin School-Based: Principals or designated administrator shall remain on duty until:
  • All students have left 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-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-NCS School-Based: Employees may leave 30 minutes after student dismissal. Interpreters may be dismissed with students.
• 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.
• HCEA 10- and 11-month: Teachers may leave [3 hours earlier/90-minutes earlier] than regular dismissal time.
• 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.

All staff designated as emergency employees may leave as directed by their supervisors.

Code Red – Afternoon/Evening Activities Canceled

All afternoon/evening activities involving HCPSS students and staff are canceled. In addition, all community-sponsored programs in HCPSS buildings are canceled.

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

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

If there is a scheduled Board of Education meeting, a determination will be made regarding whether the meeting will be canceled or held virtually.

Code Red – Saturday Activities Canceled

All activities involving HCPSS students and staff are canceled. In addition, all community-sponsored programs in HCPSS buildings are canceled.