Parent Connection
September 2025 Issue
Curriculum Transparency: A Shared Commitment
Beginning this month, I will be writing a short memo in each newsletter on an issue I believe is important to families. This is my first one, and I’d like to start with a topic that goes to the core of our shared responsibility: what we teach our children.
Harford County Public Schools has always worked to make curriculum information available to families. Parents and guardians have been able to review instructional resources, see the scope and sequence of courses, and understand how classroom learning connects with Maryland’s state standards. This reflects a long-recognized principle in both law and practice that families have the right to shape their children’s education. Our responsibility as a school system is to reinforce families’ role in education through openness and transparency.
In recent years, we’ve taken steps to make that openness even more meaningful. Last year, we reinforced a commitment to Parent Teacher conferences, which continues this school year. Additionally, one of the most valuable steps for transparency has been the adoption of Canvas, which gives families real-time access to assignments, due dates, and course resources. Many of you already use Canvas every day, and we are working to provide even more support and training, so it continues to be a helpful window into classroom learning. Here are Canvas Access Instructions and don’t forget that you can set notification preferences, check weekly for updates, and message teachers directly in Canvas.
This fall, with Dr. Bulson’s leadership and the Board’s focus on transparency, we’ll be taking that progress even further. Families can expect easier online access to curriculum materials, plain-language summaries alongside state standards, and updated guides that outline what students are expected to learn at each grade level. These improvements will roll out later this school year. In the meantime, visit our instructional departments online for information about each subject, grade by grade.
A recent Supreme Court ruling has ignited discussion about families’ ability to review instructional materials, opt-out, and receive communication from their schools. In this moment, I want to highlight and reinforce our practices, which include access to Canvas and all posted materials in your students’ class, timely communication and notifications, and when needed, opt-out options.
For more information on staying connected to your student’s learning including opt-out, visit Stay Connected: Curriculum Options. As always, your child’s teacher is your first and best resource for questions about classroom instruction and state standards implementation. They know what’s happening in their classroom and can address most questions quickly.
At the end of the day, my commitment, and the commitment of our school system, is straightforward: families should always feel like full partners in their child’s education. Transparency builds trust, and trust helps students thrive. With new improvements beginning later this year and continued engagement, I’m confident we are moving forward together in the right direction.
With appreciation,
Dr. Aaron Poynton
President
Board of Education of Harford County
One Award Recipient to be Named Each Quarter
Parent Academy is excited to continue our Most Valuable Parent (MVP) Award program this year. As a reminder, this award program recognizes and celebrates HCPS parents/guardians who actively support their child’s school by working to welcome ALL families, helping school staff communicate with ALL parents, building parents’ understanding of how to help their child successfully progress in school, finding community partners to help support the school, and working with administrators on decision making.
Our school's PACE Liaisons will nominate for this award. All nominations will be reviewed by the HCPS Customer Service Task Force External Subcommittee, and the subcommittee will select a winner each quarter of the school year.
Winners will be recognized on the HCPS website and social media accounts and will be presented with a certificate from Dr. Bulson and a small gift from Mary Beth Stapleton on behalf of Parent Academy. In addition, they will be interviewed and highlighted in a special video shared with the HCPS community.
We look forward to honoring and celebrating our awesome parents this school year!
PTA members are people who have a vested interest in the education, health, and wellbeing of all children. Click here to support your child's PTA and see how to stay informed.
Did you know the Board of Education of Harford County asks for public feedback when new policies or revisions to existing policies are presented and discussed at Board Business Meetings? Provide your feedback on the policy by the deadline listed on the webpage! https://hcps.org/boe/hottopics/default.aspx
Check out what's happening this month!
The Harford County Public Library offers so many educational, fun, and FREE events at each of its branches year-round. Be sure to visit the events page of their website to see what's happening this month!
HCPS Parent Academy
HCPS parents are students’ first and best teachers.
Email: ParentAcademy@hcps.org
Website: https://www.hcps.org/parents/ParentAcademy/Default.aspx
Location: 102 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 410-588-5263
Facebook: facebook.com/HCPSParentAcademy