Latest News & Resources:

Graduation Participation for Students with Disabilities Seeking a High School Diploma

Howard County Public School System, Department of Special Education
April 19, 2018

A change in practice has been implemented for students with disabilities who are seeking a high school diploma. This is NOT applicable to students who are not diploma bound. This practice applies to students who will not earn a diploma within four years. These students will be given the option to select the graduation ceremony in which they participate. …

Transition Planning Guide for Individuals with Disabilities

Maryland State Department of Education

The MSDE Transition Planning Guide for Individuals with Disabilities (2017) provides information to students, parents/guardians, educators, and community agencies about the transition process. …

HCPSS Special Education Annual Update

Howard County Public School System (HCPSS)
March 22, 2018

Dr. Terrell Savage,  HCPSS acting executive director of special education, and members of her staff shared school system efforts to support students requiring special education services, as outlined in the HCPSS Special Education Strategic Plan. …

Making the Unfamiliar Familiar: Children with Disabilities in Child Care Settings

By Christie Timms
Maryland Learning Links

When child care providers have difficulties with children who have disabilities, it’s often a case of the provider simply never having worked with a child with a disability. Typically developing children are, of course, individuals – each their own flavor – but their profiles tend to fit into a range with which most providers are familiar. In the case of children with disabilities, a provider may be entirely unfamiliar with how to work with the child. There is usually a solution to this problem: Make the unfamiliar familiar. …

Extended School Year (ESY) 2018

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) offers a continuum of ESY services. See the links to the programs below for times, locations, target populations, and services provided. To learn what HCPSS considers when determining ESY eligibility and what services are offered, see the 2018 ESY Eligibility Presentation. …

Parental Consent and IEPs: Important Changes to Maryland Law

Presented by Leslie Seid Margolis, Managing Attorney, Disability Rights Maryland
January 29, 2018

In July, a new Maryland law took effect to expand the rights of parents in the special education process—the right to consent or refuse to consent to certain actions proposed by the IEP team. In order to prepare parents for IEP discussions where parental consent may be requested, Leslie Seid Margolis explains the new law to parents, …