Student/Parent Handbook - Spring 2021 - HCPSS
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Innovative Pathways Evening Program
IPEvening@hcpss.org | (410) 313-6627
Student/Parent Handbook - Spring 2021
Overview
The Innovative Pathways Evening Program provides educational services through
Evening School for current grade 9-12 students:
● Seeking to recover credit for missed/failed courses.
● Interested in taking additional classes to advance their studies.
● Who are on long-term suspension or who have been expelled from school but
are under 18 years of age.
All Innovative Pathways Evening Program courses are taught using a blended
instructional model; combining synchronous (real-time) instruction with an HCPSS
teacher one to three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) with additional
online coursework completed outside of class time. Scheduling two academic periods,
three days per week, allows students to access more than one course per academic
year.
Spring 2021 Evening Program courses will be taught in a virtual format through April,
2021. Teachers will be adapting lessons and activities to be delivered virtually through
synchronous (live) Google Meet instructional lessons and online assignments through
Canvas. Students will need to have reliable internet access and an appropriate
technological device. Options for in-person instruction will be updated based on
the HCPSS Reopening Plan.
Program Contacts
Innovative Programs Evening School staff strive to respond to all messages as soon as
possible and within 24 hours. Please expect that during the first week, there will be a
high volume of messages and we appreciate your patience. Email messages
(IPEvening@hcpss.org) will receive a faster response than calling the program phone
number (410-313-6627). Phone messages will be returned after reviewing voicemail
messages within 24 hours.
Payments
Parents/guardians will be notified when a student has been enrolled in a class.
Parents/guardians must then remit full tuition in order to enroll in and earn credit
for Evening Program courses.
Once enrolled, you will receive an invoice from MySchoolBucks outlining the course
fees for each student; however, you DO NOT HAVE to make payment through
MySchoolBucks. Payments will be accepted in the following manner:
1● Online: Payments may be made through MySchoolBucks by debit or credit card
(online payments have a non-refundable service fee)
● Mail: Download the Enrollment Payment Form and return the completed form
with a check or money order payable to Howard County Public Schools to:
HCPSS
Attn: Innovative Pathways
10910 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
● In-person: Download the Enrollment Payment Form and bring completed form
with a check or money order payable to Howard County Public Schools to the
Applications & Research Laboratory (ARL) school building during one of the
following dates/times:
● Wednesday, January 27, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
● Thursday, January 28, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Checks returned by the bank due to insufficient funds will be assessed a charge. If
payment is not received in full, the unpaid amount will become a debt and will be
entered as an outstanding obligation at your child’s school. All obligations must be
satisfied prior to graduation. The HCPSS Finance Office has contracted with Envision
Payment Solutions, Inc. for the electronic collection of check payments. If the check is
returned unpaid, Envision Payment Solutions, Inc. will assess a $35 fee allowed by
Maryland state law and charged as an electronic fund transfer.
If you have any questions, or if an alternate form of payment is needed, please contact
the Innovative Pathways Bookkeeper (IPEvening@hcpss.org) to review payment
options.
Financial Assistance
Students who currently receive Free and Reduced Price Meal services (FARMs)
through HCPSS Food and Nutrition Services will have a 50 percent tuition reduction
applied automatically upon verification – no application is required.
Parents/guardians who are unable to afford tuition after the automatic FARMs
status-based discounts, or who do not qualify for FARMs but are experiencing a
documented financial hardship, may complete a Financial Assistance Application.
Financial hardships include unemployment of a parent or guardian, pending foreclosure
or eviction, and medical hardship. The Financial Assistance Committee will review the
completed applications and notify parents/guardians if additional tuition reduction will be
applied.
Financial Assistance Applications will be accepted in the following manner:
● Email: Email the form and required documentation to IPEvening@hcpss.org
● Mail: Download the Financial Assistance Application and return the completed
form and required documentation to:
2HCPSS
Attn: Innovative Pathways
10910 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Withdrawal and Refund Requests
Prior to enrollment, a parent/guardian or school counselor may submit a registration
withdrawal request online through HCPSS Connect. See details on how to Request
Withdrawal from Evening School Courses.
Students may withdraw until the close of business on Friday, February 5 to receive a full
refund. Students withdrawing between Saturday, February 6 – Friday, February 12
will receive a partial refund (the amount of payment less the greater of a 20%
administrative fee or $50.00). Students withdrawing after February 12 may not
receive a refund.
Any student who withdraws from a course after Friday, February 19 will receive a W
(withdrawal) on the report card and official transcript.
Tuition paid by cash, check, or money order will be refunded in the form of a check
mailed to the issuer once the refund request is processed. Refunds by check may take
4–6 weeks to process. Tuition paid by credit card will be refunded to the credit card in
accordance with the credit card company’s refund procedure less the service charge.
Program Schedule and Important Dates
Spring Semester Year-Long
Original Credit Courses Credit Recovery Courses
(1.0 and 0.5 credit) (1.0 credit)
1.0 Credit 1.0 Credit
Semester 2 Semester 1
February 2 - May 12 October 13 - January 28
0.5 Credit No Fall Semester classes on 11/3,
Health or Lifetime Fitness 11/24-26, 12/24, 12/29-31
Session 1: Feb 2-Mar 18
Session 2: Mar 23-May 12 Semester 2
February 2 - May 12
No Spring Semester classes 4/6-8 No Spring Semester classes 4/6-8
● Period 1 courses meet between 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
○ Period 1 Teacher Office Hours: 6:00 - 6:20 p.m.
● Period 2 courses meet between 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
○ Period 2 Teacher Office Hours: 7:30 - 7:50 p.m.
3Parent Orientation Session
Parents/guardians of enrolled students are invited to attend the following parent
orientation session:
● Tuesday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m.
You MUST register for the session using the following link:
https://hcpss.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqduiopz8uHtyfCfDHDPAHe_pJIu0RSnVo
If you plan to attend using a computer you can access Zoom through a web browser. If
using a mobile device, we suggest downloading the Zoom Mobile App before selecting
the link. The session may be recorded.
Mandatory Student Orientation
All students are required to attend a mandatory student orientation during the first
scheduled Google Meet lesson for their course. Students should refer to their Canvas
Course calendar for the course Google Meet link. Teachers will also post student
orientation materials to Canvas for parents/guardians to review.
Marking Period Dates
Semester Marking Period Dates
Marking Period 3 February 2 - March 18
Spring 2021
Marking Period 4 March 23 - May 12
Other Important Dates
Tuesday, January 26 at Evening Program Overview webinar
7:00 p.m. NOTE: The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to
enrolled families with enrollment confirmation email
Wednesday, January 27, In-person payment drop-off at the Applications & Research
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Laboratory (ARL) school building
Thursday, January 28, NOTE: Drop-off will be outside the front doors. Please
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. bring the completed Enrollment Payment Form with a
check or money order payable to Howard County Public
Schools
Tuesday, February 2 First day of class for Spring Semester Original Credit
courses and Semester 2 Year-Long Credit Recovery
courses
4Teachers will provide a course overview during the first
scheduled Google Meet lesson
Friday, February 5 Students may receive a full refund for withdrawal for
Spring Semester Original Credit courses
Friday, February 12 Students may receive a partial refund (the amount of
payment less the greater of a 20% administrative fee or
$50.00) for withdrawal for Spring Semester Original Credit
courses
Students withdrawing after February 12 may not
receive a refund
Friday, February 19 Last day to withdraw without penalty
Thursday, March 18 Last day of Quarter 3 for Spring Semester Original Credit
courses
April 6-8 No classes
Wednesday, May 12 Last day of Quarter 3 for Spring Semester Original Credit
courses
Last day of Semester 2 for Year-Long Credit Recovery
courses
Course Prerequisite Requirements
Current high school students may only take courses for which they have met
prerequisite requirements. Please review the Innovative Pathways Evening Program
Course Listing and discuss course options with the student’s school counselor if you
have questions about the student’s high school academic plan.
Program Schedules
The weekly course schedule outlines the times when students are expected to
participate in daily synchronous (live) Google Meet instructional lessons and complete
online assignments through Canvas.
Weekly Course Schedule - Spring 2021
● Synchronous (live) lessons will be held between 1-3 days per week (Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday) depending on the course.
● On Monday, teachers will post the agenda and expectations for the week.
Grades from the prior week will also be updated.
5Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Google Meet - Google Meet - Google Meet -
Period 1 - Period 1 - Period 1 -
5:00 p.m. -
Synchronous (live) Synchronous (live) Synchronous (live)
6:00 p.m.
instructional time instructional time instructional time
with the teacher with the teacher with the teacher
Google Meet Google Meet Google Meet
Office Hours - Office Hours - Office Hours -
Synchronous (live) Synchronous (live) Synchronous (live)
office hours to meet office hours to meet office hours to meet
6:00 p.m. -
with the teacher with the teacher with the teacher
6:20 p.m.
(NOTE: may be (NOTE: may be (NOTE: may be
assigned for assigned for assigned for
students as students as students as
needed) needed) needed)
Canvas - Students Canvas - Students
6:20 p.m. -
complete Break complete
6:30 p.m.
instructional tasks instructional tasks
Google Meet - Google Meet - Google Meet -
Period 2 - Period 2 - Period 2 -
6:30 p.m. -
Synchronous (live) Synchronous (live) Synchronous (live)
7:30 p.m.
instructional time instructional time instructional time
with the teacher with the teacher with the teacher
Google Meet Google Meet Google Meet
Office Hours - Office Hours - Office Hours -
Synchronous (live) Synchronous (live) Synchronous (live)
office hours to meet office hours to meet office hours to meet
7:30 p.m. -
with the teacher with the teacher with the teacher
7:50 p.m.
(NOTE: may be (NOTE: may be (NOTE: may be
assigned for assigned for assigned for
students as students as students as
needed) needed) needed)
Attendance Policy
Active student participation is the key to student achievement. Teachers will be adapting
lessons and activities to be delivered virtually through synchronous (live) Google Meet
instructional lessons and online assignments through Canvas.
● Students are expected to attend every Google Meet instructional lesson and
follow the Google Meet Expectations for Students and Parents/Guardians.
● Students may only earn credit for assignments due to an excused absence.
Students may be excused from class or school only for reasons as specified in
the Code of Maryland Regulations, 13A.08.01.02, 13A.08.01.03, 13A.08.01.06
and l3AA.10.01.04(A-B).
Please see the summary of weekly attendance requirements below:
6Google Meet Students are required to attend 1-3 Students who miss more than one
Instructional synchronous (live) instructional lessons lesson per week and do not maintain
Lessons per week. course progress may be subject to
withdrawal.
To be marked Present for required
sessions a student must:
● Login at the scheduled start
time. Students who login up to
15 minutes after the start time
are considered Tardy. Students
who login after 15 minutes of
the start time are considered
Absent.
● Engage with the teacher
through the chat, video or
microphone.
● Actively participate through
the scheduled end time.
Teachers may randomly
check-in with students at
various points during the
session. If a student does not
respond or participate, they
may be considered Absent for
the session.
Google Meet Students are assigned to attend Students will receive communication
Teacher Office teacher office hours when they are not from their instructor and will be
Hours making adequate progress in their required to attend mandatory teacher
course(s). office hours where available. These
meetings are required sessions and
will apply towards a student’s overall
weekly attendance.
Course Students are expected to complete and Students who are not making
Progress submit course assignments on their daily/weekly progress or are more than
due date and make progress on a daily one week behind in the course may be
and weekly basis. subject to withdrawal from the course.
This includes:
● Not logging into Google Meet or
Canvas each day.
● Not submitting assignments by
the posted due dates.
Make-Up Work
For students who are marked Absent based on the attendance policy, make-up work
will be accepted under the following conditions:
1. A student may make up work and receive a recorded grade for work missed due
to a lawful absence.
72. A student may complete make-up work but will not receive a recorded grade for
work missed due to an unlawful absence.
3. Teachers may allow students to redo work to demonstrate a satisfactory level of
mastery at a minimum.
4. Make-up work may not necessarily be identical to the original assignment but will
meet the instructional intent.
Grading and Reporting
Evening Program grades will be calculated using the practices outlined in HCPSS
Policy 8020 - Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School. On October 22, 2020,
the Howard County Board of Education voted to temporarily suspend sections of the
elementary and secondary grading policies to institute procedures and calculations
consistent with the HCPSS Reopening Plan for the 2020-2021 school year. The policy
changes–effective immediately and set to terminate at the end of the school
year–accommodate a shift to a virtual environment and a 4×4 semester schedule.
High School Transcript and GPA
For current Grade 9-12 students, the student’s course grade will be recorded on the
high school transcript and will be calculated into the high school grade point average.
When a student completes a credit recovery course, both the final grades from taking
the course originally and for retaking the course will be included in the high school
grade point average if taken in high school. Both courses will be recorded on the
transcript.
Final Grade Calculation
Per Policy 8020, final grades will be determined by translating the letter grade for each
marking period. Midterm and final exams will not be administered during the
2020-2021 school year.
Full Semester (1.0 credit) Courses: The final grade will be determined by
translating the letter grade for each marking period into quality points:
Quality Points for Letter Grades
A B C D E
4 3 2 1 0
Multiply each marking period grade by 2. For example, if a student earned an “A”
for the first marking period, the student has earned 8 quality points (4 x 2).
Add the total quality points earned from both marking periods and divide the sum
by 4. Use the Final Grade Quality Points Scale below to determine the overall
final grade earned for the course.
Quarter (0.5 credit) Courses: The marking period grade will be the student’s
final grade earned for the course.
8To earn a passing grade for a course, a student must earn at least 0.75 quality
points.
Final Grade Quality Points Scale
A B C D E
Below 0.75
3.50-4.00 2.50-3.49 1.50-2.49 0.75-1.49
(no credit)
Student Code of Conduct
The HCPSS Student Code of Conduct provides a framework to support behavioral
goals and disciplinary policies. All students are expected to be aware of and abide by
this Student Code of Conduct. Parents/guardians are encouraged to read the Student
Code of Conduct carefully and to discuss the information with their children. Staff will
follow the Student Code of Conduct when supporting students and determining
consequences for violations. Additional information about school system practices,
policies and services available to support and enrich learning can be found in the
HCPSS Student and Parent Handbook.
Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism
Academic dishonesty through cheating, copying, plagiarizing, or altering records, or
assisting another in such actions will not be tolerated. Plagiarizing, such as by taking
someone else’s work or ideas, cheating or other actions taken by a student that is
deemed inappropriate based on information, rules, guidelines or procedures found in
Policy 8120 - Testing: State and Local Responsibilities and Protocols may result in
disciplinary action.
Responsible Use of Technology and Social Media
Policy 8080 - Responsible Use of Technology and Social Media
Students must act in a responsible, civil, ethical and appropriate manner when using
technology for HCPSS-sanctioned activities. Students may not reveal personally
identifiable information (e.g., home phone numbers, addresses or social security
numbers) except in specific circumstances where such information is required to
complete academic assignments. In such circumstances, prior written consent from the
parent or legal guardian of the student is required.
To ensure student safety and acceptable standards of technology use, all students will
be given instruction on the responsible use of technology and social media.
Students will access only those network resources for which they have obtained
permission, using the account assigned to them.
Students will not create, access, share, download, store or print content that:
● Depicts profanity, obscenity, the use of weapons, terrorism, or violence.
● Promotes use of tobacco, drugs, alcohol, or other illegal or harmful products.
● Contains sexually suggestive messages.
9● Is sexually explicit or obscene.
● Depicts gang affiliation.
● Contains language or symbols that demean an identifiable person or group or
otherwise infringe on the rights of others.
● Causes or is likely to cause a disruption to school activities or the orderly
operation of the school.
● Contains rude, disrespectful or discourteous expressions inconsistent with civil
discourse or behavior.
● Constitutes bullying, cyberbullying, harassment or intimidation in violation of
Policy 1040 - Safe and Supportive Schools, or Policy 1060 - Bullying,
Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Intimidation.
If a student, while using HCPSS sanctioned technology or social media, discovers that
another student may be the target of bullying, stalking or other harmful behavior, the
student must report the findings to a teacher or administrator. The school system
reserves the right to enable or disable interactive features on social media to remove
content that is inconsistent with the stated purpose,mission, and guidelines posted for
the use of social media. The school system may access, monitor, archive, audit, purge
or disclose the public contents of material that is created, stored or accessed through
personal social media when possible and permitted by law.
Failure by any student to comply with this policy will result in the temporary or
permanent termination of technology access privileges, in addition to any applicable
disciplinary action or financial obligation.
Student and Parent/Guardian Signature Page
Please review the 2020-2021 Innovative Pathways Evening Program Student/Parent
Handbook, the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct and related policies with your student.
Your electronic signatures denote that you have received access to and are aware of
the policies specific to the Evening Program. The electronic record of the signature
page submission will be maintained as part of the records for the Innovative Pathways
Evening Program. Please complete the signature form below.
2020-2021 Student/Parent Handbook Signature Form
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