August 3, 2026, Staff and Community Update: Back2BCPS—Things to Know for the 2026-2027 School Year
Dear Team BCPS Families:
As the summer break winds down, here are some important dates you need to know:
- Thursday, August 27 – Early Entry Day for Grades 6 and 9
Students will tour their new schools and meet teachers and administrators. If your child is entering Grade 6 or 9, expect to receive more information soon from your child's school.
- Monday, August 31 – First day of school for Grades 1-12
- Wednesday, September 2 – First full day of Kindergarten
One more date to remember is Saturday, August 22. On that date, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at New Town High School, 4931 New Town Blvd. in Owings Mills, we will hold BCPSfest, our annual, systemwide back-to-school festival. We hope you and your family will join us for free, family-friendly fun, resources, and information.
Things to know for the BCPS 2026-2027 school year
Table of Contents
Academics
BCPS is committed to advancing academic progress for all. BCPS will continue to send attendance and grade reports home each Friday morning. The attendance report will be sent via Focus and the grades summary will be sent via Schoology. We hope these reports will help families support their children's academic progress throughout the school year. The reports will be sent to the email address your child’s school has on file.
English Language Arts
This year marks our fourth year of using HMH Into Reading in elementary English language arts (ELA). Teachers will continue to build on this strong foundation with a focus on reading, writing, and vocabulary.
The 2026-2027 school year marks an exciting moment for elementary ELA instruction in BCPS: the districtwide launch of Structured Literacy. This is an exciting step forward for every K-2 student and educator in our elementary schools. Research is clear that Structured Literacy, with its explicit, systematic approach to reading instruction, transforms outcomes for students. For teachers, it provides a clear, evidence-based framework that builds confidence and consistency in the classroom.
Also beginning this school year, BCPS will implement HMH Cursive Writing instruction systemwide in Grades 2 and 3. This adoption supports our continued commitment to foundational literacy development by providing structured, developmentally appropriate handwriting instruction for all students. Cursive handwriting supports students’ fine motor development, letter formation, writing fluency, and overall confidence as writers. When students can write more automatically, they can focus more attention on generating ideas, organizing thoughts, and communicating clearly.
Mathematics
Elementary Math
Get ready for another exciting year of math exploration! Our elementary students will continue building a rock-solid foundation using the dynamic Bridges in Mathematics curriculum. With a strong focus on key grade-level standards and creative problem solving, teachers will guide students through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. The Number Corner will remain a favorite daily routine, boosting math fluency and deepening understanding in fun and interactive ways.
Secondary Math
BCPS middle and high school students are set to sharpen their mathematical thinking with the continued use of the powerful Illustrative Mathematics curriculum. This high-quality program supports learners at every level through thoughtful and rich problem-solving opportunities. Students will not only build essential skills, but also connect math to meaningful, real-life scenarios—making learning relevant, challenging, and exciting.
Curriculum Night Set for September 16
Please save the date! On Wednesday, September 16, BCPS will hold its annual Curriculum Night. More details to come. Curriculum Night is a great opportunity for families to learn more about BCPS curriculum and efforts to improve instruction in English language arts, mathematics, science, early childhood education, Multilingual Achievement and English Language Development, and special education. BCPS staff will discuss what children will be learning in school and will provide tips and resources on how to support student learning at home. Participating families can see instructional materials and ask questions.
TalkingPoints
Our schools will continue to use various tools to enhance their communication with families, including the Talking Points app.
Attendance
Consistent attendance is key to student success! Students are expected to attend all classes on time each day, actively participate in discussions and activities, and complete assignments. To promote strong attendance, BCPS encourages parents to support their child in being
Here for It!This initiative offers students, parents, and educators’ valuable tools, including tips to get the 2026-2027 school year off to a strong start.
Assessments
Parents can use their Schoology accounts to check their children’s grades and receive updates from teachers. Please note the following key dates:
|
Marking period |
Period ends |
Report cards distributed |
| First |
Thursday, October 30, 2026 |
Thursday, November 12, 2026 |
| Second |
Friday, January 15, 2027 |
Thursday, January 28, 2027 |
| Third |
Wednesday, April 2, 2027 |
Thursday, April 15, 2027 |
| Fourth |
Friday, June 11, 2027 |
Monday, June 14, 2027 |
BCPS will offer PSAT / NMSQT testing in October 2026 for all Grade 10 students and Grade 11 students who elect to participate. BCPS will offer SAT Day in March 2027 for all Grade 11 students.
Cell phones
Cell phone use is prohibited during the instructional day in all BCPS elementary and middle schools other than for school-sanctioned uses or at school-sanctioned times.
- Consult with your school or school webpage to determine allowed uses/times.
- All students should have phones OFF and AWAY during instructional time.
- Headphones/ear buds, smartwatches, or other similar wearable technology are prohibited unless used for a specific instructional purpose.
- Students who need personal devices for medical needs MUST have this documented in a 504 Plan, Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or Individualized Health Classroom Plan. Students may ONLY use their phones for the stated purpose in the plan.
Cell phone use is restricted during the instructional day in all BCPS high schools and may be allowed for specific times or uses.
Students and/or their families assume all risk and liability for damage, theft, or loss of personal technology.
Recording students or staff with cell phones or other recordable personal technology may be illegal and violates BCPS policy; students who use devices to record disruptions of any kind are subject to disciplinary action and may be referred to law enforcement.
Consequences for violating school and/or BCPS policy or rules may be either school- or system-based and are to be assessed by school-based staff.
Food and Nutrition/Free meals
BCPS will continue to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all students at all schools, no application required. As a reminder, the Summer Food Service Program will run through Friday, August 21.
Immunizations
Does your child need immunizations for the 2026-2027 school year? Check with your child’s physician or call 410-887-2705 for an appointment at a community health center. More information is available online. The Baltimore County Department of Health will also provide vaccinations for free at BCPSfest on Saturday, August 22. BCPS students must be fully immunized at the start of the new school year. The Baltimore County Department of Health is offering several mobile vaccine clinics , Spanish version Back to School Mobile Vax Calendar, to help students and families get their required vaccines.
Mental Health Services
As the school year begins, students and families face navigating new relationships, schedules, and expectations. The BCPS Department of Student Support Services Mental Health Services webpage offers an array of resources that can help, including those provided by school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and pupil personnel workers. In addition, BCPS partners with nearly two dozen community mental health providers across the county.
BCPS high school students (13+) may access free virtual therapy or online support through Talkspace. This no-cost, confidential service is available for students, families, and staff is available 24/7. If you would like to get a head start on preparing for the school year explore Mental Health America’s back-to-school webpage, which provides practical guidance, free tools, printables, activities, and crisis resources.
Options and Opportunities
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) – CTE provides students an opportunity to pursue a program of study leading to advancement in a career field. High school CTE programs enable students to transition into postsecondary education and to earn college credit and/or industry credentials in a career field of interest.
- Tuition-Free Program – The BCPS Tuition Free Program covers tuition, fees, and books for students in Grades11 and 12 who have met College and Career Readiness Standards, as outlined in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. In alignment with Blueprint requirements, students who have met College and Career Readiness Standards are eligible to have up to two courses in the fall semester and two courses in the spring semester paid for by BCPS. The courses must be credit-bearing, in an approved program of study, or courses leading to industry credentials at CCBC or other public Maryland universities. All courses must be approved by the student’s school counselor.
- Extracurricular activities – Every school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities to meet students’ interests. Check with your children’s schools to learn what’s available.
- Athletics – All BCPS middle schools and high schools offer interscholastic athletics for those eligible to play. Many schools provide Allied Sports options that bring students with and without disabilities together to play interscholastic soccer, bocce, and softball. Athletics programs provide a great opportunity for middle and high school students to get involved and learn valuable life skills. New athletic registration information is available on the BCPS website. Questions? Call the Office of Athletics at 443-809-2328.
- Magnet programs – For the 2026-2027 school year, 29 BCPS elementary, middle, and high schools offer magnet programs to provide educational options aligned with students’ interests, talents, and abilities. Families can learn more about the programs offered and application process for the 2027-2028 school year at the Magnet EXPO!, which will be held on Saturday, September 19, from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at CCBC Essex and Wellness Center. Families can also attend information meetings on the following dates:
- Thursday, September 17, at 6 p.m. – Kenwood High School, 501 Stemmers Run Rd, Essex, MD 21221
- Tuesday, September 22, at 6 p.m. – Milford Mill Academy, 3800 Washington Ave., Windsor Mill, MD 21244
Parent Engagement
We encourage all parents and caregivers to connect to their children’s schools. Joining the parent/teacher/student association, volunteering, and/or attending school events are just some of the many ways you can participate. To make a difference at the community level, please consider attending area educational advisory council meetings or joining a council. There are also councils or committees focused on career and technical education, gifted and talented education, and special education.
In addition, we invite parents to learn more about BCPS Parent University. In collaboration with many partners, Parent University offers online resources, in-person and online workshops, and a mobile parent resource center to support parents in nurturing their children’s success. Follow Parent University at @BCPSParentU on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Twitter).
For a weekly systemwide update, please sign up for our community newsletter issued by email every
Monday morning.
BCPS is also active on social media. Find us onX (Formerly Twitter) and Facebookas @BaltCoPS, onInstagramas @teambcps, and on LinkedIn. Still more information about BCPS is available on ourVimeo,YouTube, Flickr, and Exposureaccounts.
BCPS Spanish-language social media accounts can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
Parent Information Systems
You now have more ways than ever of learning about and understanding your child’s progress and accessing classroom, school, and system information. Please sign up for and use these tools frequently throughout the school year:
- Schoology
- Focus
- Talking Points
- School Messenger text messages (Text “Y” or “Yes” to 67587 to receive BCPS text message updates.)
Resolving Issues
Parents who have questions or may need to resolve an issue should seek help first from their child’s teacher or school counselor. If they need more assistance, their next contact should be a school assistant principal or principal. If the issue remains unresolved, the family can then reach out to the appropriateexecutive directors, who oversee groups of schools.
School Safety
Our first responsibility as a school system is to ensure the safety of staff and students. To this end, BCPS follows a comprehensive safety plan, which includes placing school resource officers at each middle and high school and assigning rotating school resource officers at elementary schools. Our school resource officers maintain safety and serve as mentors and role models. Our school safety assistants focus on relationship-building and help mediate conflicts. Students and staff engage in drills to practice emergency responses, and BCPS uses technology to enhance safety.
However, school safety is a shared responsibility. Please talk with your child about appropriate behavior and review the BCPS Student Handbook with them before school begins. Look for information from your child’s school about incidents rather than relying on often incomplete or inaccurate social media or news accounts. Make sure your child knows to report suspicious or threatening information to a teacher, school resource officer, or school administrator.
Service-Learning
It's important for families of middle and high school students to understand the Maryland service-learning graduation requirement by reviewing the resources found on the BCPS Service-Learning website.
BCPS students can begin earning service-learning hours as early as Grade 6. While we integrate service-learning into our curriculum to ensure that students can earn all required hours during the school day, we strongly encourage students to go above and beyond by engaging in independent service-learning projects. These experiences allow students to make a deeper impact in their communities while enhancing their personal and academic development. Beyond fulfilling a state mandate, service-learning helps students build civic responsibility, develop leadership and teamwork skills, and connect classroom learning to real-world community needs.
Special Education Services
BCPS is dedicated to the success of students with disabilities and their families. We provide a full continuum of special education services and related support for eligible students from birth to age 21. The local school Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team is the first point of contact for special education support for your child. Families and caregivers may also initiate services through the Child Find process. The Department of Special Education is available for both families and schools and can be contacted at 443-809-3660.
Student Expectations
“The 2026-2027 Student Handbook,” and “The Transportation Handbook” outline student expectations, rights, and responsibilities. We encourage BCPS families to review these guides with their children. Students will also review them in school.
Device Allocation and Technology Support
Last year, BCPS updated its student device allocation plan. That plan remains in effect for this upcoming school year.
Elementary and middle schools will have a process for students to check out a device for home use when needed. Families have received additional details from administrators on their specific school process. Students and their parents/caregivers will be financially responsible for intentional damage to or loss of any Chromebook or other devices assigned to the student. As an instructional tool, there is no initial cost for BCPS students to receive a Chromebook or other devices, but students/families will be financially responsible when there is avoidable damage to the device. Technology support is available for BCPS students having issues with their devices.
Transportation/Buses
The Department of Transportation is excited to welcome students back as we gear up for a successful and safe new school year. Student transportation assignments will be available in Focus beginning on Wednesday, August 19. Please remind your children to be at their assigned bus stops at least 10 minutes prior to their scheduled pick-up time and to always follow the posted bus rules. BCPS also offers the BusWhere mobile app to keep you informed of your estimated bus arrival time. Bus changes and delays will continue to be published on the transportation status webpage.
Back2BCPS Campaign
Monday, August 3, marks the start of this year’s Back2BCPS campaign as Baltimore County Public Schools shares important updates, information, and resources with families and students ahead of the new school year. Please follow along on social media (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and our Spanish Facebook page) or visit our Back2BCPS webpage to stay informed as we prepare for a successful 2026-2027 school year!