HCPS Will Continue To Close On Inclement Weather Days – For Now

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Until officials receive state guidance on whether remote learning on snow days would "count" toward the 180-school-day requirement, Harford County Public Schools will continue to close for inclement weather, officials said.

Parents and guardians had completed a survey in July that asked whether they'd like asynchronous learning on days the school system closes for inclement weather — an option officials said most survey respondents requested.

But in a post on Facebook, Manager of Communications Jill Lader said current state guidance on remote learning is "open to interpretation."

Despite that, Lader said, officials included the virtual learning option in the survey so they could find out and advocate for the school community's choices as they receive additional guidance.

"If we can operate virtually on inclement weather days in the future, we will be sure to share that with you as early as possible," officials said in the Facebook post.

The decision to keep systemwide closures — which means schools and offices are closed and no instruction takes place — in place on snow days will ensure students' safety and provide consistent messaging for staff, officials said.

"We will continue to try to make and deliver these decisions the night before," officials said in the Facebook post. "Not only does this help families and staff prepare for the closure, it ensures our transportation department...has plenty of notice, too."